Bob and Bettie Hudson honored at 50th wedding anniversary party held Sept. 8

Bob and Bettie Hudson Robert J. (Bob) and Bettie Cox Hudson of Marietta celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 24. Friends toasted the couple at party held on September 8 at the Marietta Country Club hosted by the Hudsons and their children, Kari and Eugene Callaway of Rayle, Michael and Lisa Hudson of Beaufort, S.C., and Beth and Steve Bowles of Alpharetta.

The Hudsons were married at the First Baptist Church in Chamblee on August 24, l957. Mr. Hudson retired in l993 as captain from Delta Airlines after 36 years of service and two years in the Air Force. He graduated from Marietta High School, attended Georgia Tech, and is known by many as the one-time voice of WFOM Radio Station, a teen's call-in request show based in Marietta.

After graduating from Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Mrs. Hudson worked in the IBM department for Avon in Atlanta and later served in a number of volunteer capacities while raising her family. She has held local, county, and state offices with the Jaycettes, volunteered with the Red Cross at Southside Hospital in College Park, worked with HeadStart and the Well-Baby Clinic in College Park, assisted in the Cobb County's District Attorney's Victim Witness program, and served with CAPA

Child Abuse and Prevention Association) in Beaufort, S.C.

Guests attending the celebration enjoyed dancing to a variety of music provided by Atlanta Bands and DJ's and were treated to a cocktail buffet of salmon, beef filet, fruit, antipasto, spring rolls, chicken and pineapple skewers, miniature BLT and cucumber Bruschettes, and an assortment of vegetables and dips.

The wedding cake, topped with the original bride and bridegroom, was made by Johnnie Gabriel, cousin of Paula Deen and owner of Gabriels, family bakery café in Marietta. The three-tiered cake was decorated in similar style to the Hudson's original wedding cake and featured one layer of fresh strawberry cake with butter cream filling and two layers of key lime cake and lemon curd.

Hurricane lamps, crystal vases filled with yellow roses and white candles were displayed on mirrored trays scattered with rose petals. Green decorative bird cages and white doves, provided by Avola Callaway of Rayle, were adorned with ivy and decorated the buffet table and bar area. Several large digital picture frames showcased a large collection of family pictures and slides. A professionally edited video with soundtrack, created by the couple's son, Michael Hudson, owner of Ricochet Productions Inc., a film/ television production company that also produces historical documentaries, highlighted special moments from the original 8-mm movie reel of the wedding, the Hudson's first years of marriage, and a collage of snapshots from over the years. Special wishes were sent by Avola Callaway and a large arrangement of yellow roses, sent by longtime family friends, Tammy Hurt and Wendy Cross, was displayed on the mantle in the bar area.

Grandchildren celebrating the special event were Haley and Katherine Barton and Michael Bowles of Alpahretta; and India and Grace Callaway of Rayle.

Among the more than 100 guests attending the celebration were original wedding party members, Joan Gay Daniel of Gainesville, Sara Cobb of Marietta, Barbara Teddi of Scottsdale, Ariz, JoAnn Goodroe of Big Canoe, and sister, Linda Cox of Alachua, Fla. Other family members attending included Leia Azar of Ocala, Fla., Guy Cox and daughter, Joy Hood, of Jasper, Ray and Lou Cox of Dunwoody, Deidra and Doug Poucher of Duluth, as well as longtime family friends, Valora Strickland of Fairburn, Linda Flournoy of Kennesaw, George and Harriet Kneen, Phil and Jan Saffer, Lee and Janna, George and Joan Suhr, SuseAnn and Walter Gresh, John and Dee Hansen and Michael and Karen Hansen, all of Marietta, Julian and Maxine May of Kennesaw and Washington, Bonnie and Peggy Swancy of Dunwoody and Tom and Ann Bowles of Alpharetta.