Hudson Lily Hitchcock Chaney, daughter of Mandy Hitchcock and Ed Chaney of Washington, DC, passed away on May 13, 2010, from bacterial meningitis. She was 17 months old.

A deeply loved and beautiful child, Hudson was skilled in the arts of persuasion, animal impersonation, and culinary finger painting. She loved music, Elmo, and the family dog, Bess, and was a devout member of the Tar Heel nation. She was blessed to have witnessed many joyful events, including two family Christmases, the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and the 2009 NCAA men’s basketball championship. She will be missed by all who knew her.

In addition to Hudson’s parents are hundreds of family members and friends who will continue to celebrate her life, including her grandparents, Mr. Jack Hitchcock and his partner, Ms. Susie Pela, of Pittsboro, and Dr. Edward L. and Mrs. Deniese M. Chaney of Efland; great-grandparents, Mr. Clifton C. “Jigger” and Mrs. Margariette May of Efland; aunts and uncles, Diane Hitchcock and Cindy Hall of Winston-Salem, Laura and Steve Workman of Monroe, Jason Hitchcock of Durham, Ann Chaney and Mike Owney of Woodstock, IL, and Bethany Chaney of Carrboro; and dozens of cousins and other extended family across the country.

She was predeceased by her grandmothers, Mrs. Carolyn Hudson Hitchcock and Mrs. Lillian Thornell Chaney.

A memorial service was held on May 17th at St. Francis Hall in Washington, DC, and a second was held at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill on May 22nd.

Donations may be made in Hudson’s memory to the PICU at Children’s National Medical Center, www.childrensnational.org, or to St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home, www.stanns.org.