Bertrand Ryland Hudnall II Obituary

Bertrand Ryland Hudnall II

Charleston - Bertrand Ryland Hudnall II was the eldest of three sons born to Dr. Harry Gilman (Jack) Hudnall and Elizabeth Revercomb Hudnall in Covington, Virginia. Bert was a proud "mountain boy" who found great joy, too, in living his final 31 years in Charleston. He often said, "How lucky can a man be to have called those mountains and this low country his homes"?

Bert was educated in the Covington public schools before receiving a B.A. degree in English from Washington and Lee University and a Master's in Education secondary school from the University of Virginia. At W&L, he was president of several clubs and inducted in ODK (Omicron Delta Kappa), a national leadership fraternity.

A lifetime educator, Bert first taught English at Darlington School in Rome, GA, for 4 years which he credited as being instrumental in launching him into the grown-up world. He next taught at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, VA, where he served for 7 years as teacher, admissions director, and dorm master.

It was while at VES that he met a young woman who was visiting a family friend originally from his hometown of Covington. His primary intention that evening was to pay long-overdue respects to the family friend, but he admitted to being easily distracted by the other guest, Martha Jane Daniel of Richmond who, three years later, became his beloved wife. That evening, she mentioned that Randolph-Macon was seeking a director of admissions and urged Bert to apply.

He did, and he served in that role 4 years before being offered the position of Head of School at Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, NC. The opportunity to return to the Virginia mountains arose when he was offered the Head of School position at North Cross School, a K-12 independent school in Roanoke. After a gratifying 10 years at North Cross, he returned to Randolph-Macon as Dean of Admissions, retiring to begin an independent college counseling business called "The Next Step." In 1995, Martha Jane was offered a marketing position at Bishop Gadsden in Charleston, where they have lived ever since.

In Charleston, Bert worked part time as college counselor at Ashley Hall, which he credits with introducing him to many Charlestonians who have become valued friends. In recent years, he has been College Advisor at the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science.

Bert has worked with literally thousands of students, building strong personal relationships with them and their families for over 67 years as an educator. He established a reputation for being a respected teacher, counselor, mentor, and friend to all. Students, parents, and colleagues received handwritten letters from Bert throughout his lifetime. He counted those relationships as foundational to a lifetime professional and personal satisfaction.

Bert remained active in professional organizations throughout his career, elected as Virginia's representative to the College Board and serving as president of the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) which awarded him its prestigious Apperson Award for distinguished service to the field of college admissions.

Bert authored four books, including a "skinny little cookbook" called Corny-Copia, a college guide titled Cutting Through the Chaos of College Admissions, a collection of essays called Musings from God's Lieutenant, and a collection of stories from all the schools where he worked titled Tales Out of School.

The three F's....faith, friends, and family....were the bedrocks of Bert's life. He loved First (Scots) Presbyterian Church where he was an elder and Clerk of Session twice, chair of several committees, colorful auctioneer for the annual youth missions fundraiser, and convener of a monthly fun-filled Koinonia fellowship luncheon. His faith was not limited to church-related activities; he spoke it and lived it in his daily life. Keeping in touch with his legions of friends was his pastime. It was not unusual for him to write two or three letters every single day, all in longhand on personalized stationery.

Bert would say that if nothing else went right in his life, he was still the most blessed person anywhere to have Martha Jane as his life mate. Her smile every morning, her kindness and patience every day, and the unconditional love she gave at every turn made his life full and happy. His two children, Elizabeth Bogan and Ry Hudnall, made him proud because of their innate goodness and significant personal and professional accomplishments. To his grandchildren, Rawley and Decker Hudnall, Bert was "Big B" and their unabashed champion.

In addition to his wife of 53 years, Martha Jane, he is survived by his children Elizabeth Hudnall Bogan and Bertrand Ryland Hudnall III (Ry); his beloved grandchildren Rawley Gaines Hudnall and Decker Ryland Hudnall; his brother Gil Hudnall (Mary Anne) of Atlanta; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and devoted friends.

A Virginia gentleman to the core, Bert will be long remembered for his kindness, good humor, respect for all people, and integrity.

Visitation will be at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Chapel, 232 Calhoun Street, Charleston. on Thursday, March 26, 5-7 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA; Darlington School,1014 Cave Spring Road, Rome, GA 30161; or The Boys Home, 414 Boys Home Road, Covington, VA 24426.

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