Cherryville’s Hudson and Davis Leave Indelible Marks in Community
By: Rusty Wise – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN) – On July 20th, 2024, Cherryville, NC, lost two individuals who had helped shape the city over the years. Jerry “Fatty” Hudson and Jack Davis.
Jerry “Fatty” Hudson
Hudson, 76, when he passed away, was a graduate of UNC Charlotte and Cherryville High School. He served during the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal of Valor in the United States Army. Fatty was a councilman for the City Of Cherryville and the umpire booking agent for NC High School Athletics (NCHSAA) and American Legion Baseball for 24 years. He previously ran Fatty’s Men’s Shop on Main Street for over 20 years. Besides going to the beach, his love for Cherryville baseball was unprecedented. Hudson was the current NC American Legion Area IV Commissioner and an American Legion Hall Of Fame inductee in June 2021. His desire to hold baseball tournaments in Cherryville was a passion, his latest being the 2024 American Legion NC State Baseball Tournament held this past week at Fraley Field in Cherryville. He was instrumental in acquiring funding for the improvements to Fraley Field and providing the overall blueprint for holding the tournament. Jill Puett, Cherryville’s Mayor Pro-Tem and Legion Volunteer, stated, “Fatty made the blueprint for this tournament, and all the volunteers have stepped up for him; we are just following what he laid out for us.”
Jack Davis
Davis, 95, when he passed away, graduated from Cherryville High School and Lenoir Rhyne University. He served a four-year term in the Korean War for the US Navy. Jack was instrumental in Cherryville’s home and business industry. He was executive Vice president at Cherryville National Bank (BBT) and loan officer, where he worked for 37 years, creating loans for many Cherryville businesses and homeowners. He also served on many boards throughout his years, such as the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce, Optimist, United Way, and the Gaston County Planning Board. He was instrumental in mapping the old Cherryville City-St John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Cherryville. Some Cherryville projects he procured were the Downtown streetscape revitalization in the late 1990s during his tenure as Cherryville Mayor (1995-1999) and the Downtown Cherryville New Year’s Shooters statue.
Jerry Julius “Fatty” Hudson and Jack D. Davis were members of the Cherryville American Legion Post 100, Fatty for 45 years and Jack for 51 years. These two men served their Country and the Cherryville community, which they truly loved. As you look around town, you will see their hard work, lasting many more years. They both will be missed by the Cherryville community.
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