Charlesene Hudson Smith

Charlesene Hudson Smith, born November 1, 1934 in Timpson, Texas, passed away December 18, 2021
at College Street Health Care Center in Beaumont at the age of 87. She was a longtime resident of Vidor
and spent over thirty years sharing her passion for music with countless students. When not teaching,
Charlesene performed as the principal flutist for the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra for over a decade.
During her later years, she enjoyed performing with her flute and piccolo in the Orange Community
Band. Throughout her life, she had a strong love for nature and enjoyed camping among the towering
trees of Yosemite and the geysers of Yellowstone. She was also an avid animal lover and adored her
many beautiful cats (and raccoons), birds and pet chickens throughout the years. A favorite hobby of
hers was researching family genealogy and sharing the information among her extended family.

Charlesene was a graduate of Timpson High School where her aptitude in music culminated in achieving
a chair in the Texas UIL All-State Band. Afterwards, she received a B.S. in Music from Lamar State
College of Technology in 1957, and she also pursued advanced studies in Music from the University of
Colorado. For two years she taught high school choir and orchestra in Warren, Texas. Then in 1960, she
became the Junior and Senior High School Choral Director in Vidor where she produced several musicals. She also married the love of her life, Charles R. Smith, that same year. After the birth of her first child in 1962, she returned to teaching Geography. With the birth of her second child in 1972, she took a sabbatical before once again teaching band at both the junior high and high school in Vidor until her retirement in 1992. Over the years, many of her students won awards and fondly remember her as a
demanding, yet caring, teacher.

Charlesene was preceded in death by her husband Charles R. Smith, parents, Lem Carlton “Joe” and Dorothy Hudson, and her sister, Jo Ann Pigeon and her infant brother David Hudson. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Bell of Norfolk, VA; her son, Kevin Smith and his wife, Carrie, of Windermere, FL. Four grandsons, Justin Bell of Norfolk, VA, Jared Bell and his wife, Lindsey, of Jacksonville, FL, Aiden and Tristan Smith of Windermere, FL. Her sister June Hyden and her husband, Steve of Buna, TX; and her sister Janet Gilbert and her husband, Steve of Galveston, TX. Along with several nieces and nephews. Charlesene's funeral service will be Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor and the graveside service will be Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 1:00 PM at Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery in Hamilton, TX.