Rev. Hudson Nuckols Jr.

The Rev. Pettus Hudson Nuckols Jr., 93, the longest serving minister at the Shenandoah Baptist Church, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2025, at his home in Luray.

Rev. Nuckols was born in Richmond, VA, on September 24, 1931, the only child of the late Pettus Hudson Nuckols Sr. and Annie Pleasants Nuckols. Following a severe case of rheumatic fever at age 11, he accepted Christ as his Savior at Biltmore Baptist Church in Henrico County. While teaching a boys Sunday school class in the Fulton Mission (Baptist), he felt God’s call to the ministry, and he continued volunteer mission work in Louisville, KY, and with a prison ministry in North Carolina while he was a college student.

Rev. Nuckols received his Bachelor of Science degree from Richmond Professional Institute and continued his education at Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree.

He met his wife, Peggy Joan Martin Nuckols, while in seminary. They were married on June 8, 1963, and celebrated their 61st anniversary last year shortly before Peggy’s passing.

Together, they served at Dabney Baptist Church near Holton, ID, where Rev. Nuckols was ordained on August 28, 1963. They moved to Virginia in July 1967 and served at the Shenandoah Baptist Church for 48 years.

Rev. Nuckols was an active and beloved minister in the community who could always be depended on to support the needy, the sick and the bereaved. During his time in Shenandoah, the church built the fellowship hall that continues to be an asset for the congregation.

Rev. Nuckols retired in August 2015. He and Peggy moved to Luray and lived next door to their son and his family until their passing.

Rev. Nuckols was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and his parents. 

He is survived by his son, Hudson III; his daughter, Christina; daughter-in-law Jamie; and grandchildren Breanna, Christian, Julia, and Joshua.

The family would like to thank all of the angels at Visiting Angels of Harrisonburg for their love and support over the past two years.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, February 14, at Shenandoah Baptist Church, 428 Fourth St., Shenandoah, VA, 22849. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations of Bibles in memory of Rev. Nuckols through the Page County Gideons or Gideons International.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.