Maitland Mccord Hudson

Maitland McCord Hudson, a former legislative aide, entrepreneur, teacher and mother of two, died August 5 of a heart attack at her home in Macon, Georgia. She was 67. Born in Macon on October 1, 1947, she was an avid equestrian as a girl. In 1965, she graduated salutatorian and was voted Best Citizen at Stratford Academy. She went on to attend Randolph-Macon Woman's College, which is now called Randolph College. There, she majored in French, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the May Court, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She spent her junior year in France, studying the language and culture. When they left France, she and several of her classmates did so on the trans-Atlantic voyage of the Queen Mary. After graduating from Randolph-Macon, Maitland won a full academic scholarship to the University of Virginia, where she earned her Master's in French in nine months. She then moved to Washington, where she served as a senior legislative aide to Rep. John James Flynt, Jr., D-Ga. In 1975 while working in Washington, she met and married Quinn Hudson, also from Macon. Soon after, they moved to Atlanta, where Maitland worked for Rep. Elliott H. Levitas, D-Ga., in constituent services for his reelection campaign, which he won. Afterward, she left politics and worked as a stockbroker and then founded "Foods for Moods," a bakery service that specialized in sending fresh desserts to college students. But it was not until after her divorce in 1985 when she returned to Macon with her two young daughters that Maitland found what became her most satisfying work -- as an educator. She began in the Bibb County School District, where she taught French and English at Northeast High School and was voted Star Teacher. After a number of years, she went to Westside High School, where she taught Latin. In 2007, she retired from the school district, but not from the profession. Instead, she went on to teach French and Latin in every college in Macon before retiring from teaching altogether in 2010. In addition to her intellectual curiosity and acumen, Maitland will be remembered for her boundless love of animals and flowers. Her yard was often blossoming with a colorful array of hydrangeas, begonias and daisies. She had an infectious laugh which was usually the result of her sharp wit. And, true to her roots, she adored the South and the strong women it produced. Maitland was the daughter of Robert A. McCord, Jr., and Lora Solomon McCord and the sister of Robert A. ‘Bobby' McCord III. She is survived by her daughters, Lora Hudson Biccum and Elaine Roberts Hudson, her three grandchildren, Hudson, Eliza, and Estella, and her niece and nephew, Colyar Persons and Robert A. ‘Rob' McCord IV. Details about the funeral to follow. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.