CHARLESTON—Mary Louise Hudson will begin a new chapter in her life this month when she retires from her job as diocesan director of human resources. Her last day is April 10.
Hudson came to the Diocese of Charleston in 2000 after she saw an ad for the position in the newspaper.
She has worked with personnel and human resources departments since 1984, when she worked in personnel with Charleston County. She was the first human resources director for East Cooper Community Hospital from 1984 to 1992, and then spent two years as a personnel supervisor for the City of Charleston. Just prior to joining the diocese, she worked for OSI, a large Charleston-based call center with more than 1000 employees.
“Every job I had along the way significantly prepared me for the next one, and it’s all been very interesting work,” she said.
Hudson is a member of Stella Maris Church on Sullivan’s Island, and this Charleston native has deep roots in the city.
“I was born at St. Francis Hospital on the third floor — you can’t get more Charleston than that!” she said.
Hudson now looks forward to enjoying her home on the Isle of Palms, traveling, and spending time with her family and her beloved dog, a rescued shih tzu named Rocky. She also wants to pursue a passion for writing and possibly take writing and literature classes at the College of Charleston.
“I’ve been writing ever since I can remember,” she said. “I write poetry and short stories, and I’ve had some things published.”
In her job, Hudson enjoyed helping employees access materials and information that helped them do their jobs better. She also liked the constant challenges and working through difficult situations to find positive solutions for everyone involved.
The best part of working for the Church has been sharing her deep faith while on the job, she said.
“In a corporate environment you can’t suggest that people pray about something, and you can’t bring God into the situation,” Hudson said. “In my work with the diocese, God is the situation and God is everything. Being able to incorporate your religion in your professional life is the most rewarding part of this work.”
