
by Alexander Atkinson Jr.
Notes by Alex
Harold C. Hudson — my grandfather, my mom’s dad — was an amazing man.
He had that kind of quiet strength you never forget. A soul anchored in purpose. A presence that made an impression.
He loved to fish. It wasn’t just a hobby — it was who he was. A commercial fisherman, he spent much of his life on the water. But his talents didn’t stop there. Grandpa was also a gifted carver. He made some of the best cedar wooden spoons you’d ever see — all smoothed by hand, each with his unique touch. He’d carve deer calls, too. Many of those spoons and calls were given away to family — shared with love, with no fanfare. That’s just the kind of man he was.
He also loved sports. Never missed a basketball game. Baseball on TV? That was his rhythm during the season.
But if you really wanted to see Grandpa light up, let him sing.
One of his favorite hymns was:
“I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked.”
That song came to life in a very real way when Grandpa was in his 80s. He joined a group from our hometown of Metlakatla on a trip to Israel — a journey that deeply touched his heart.
I remember how proudly and joyfully he’d say:
“Yes, I walked where Jesus walked.”
He’d show us the Polaroid photos he took — Jerusalem, Jacob’s Well, the Garden of Gethsemane. That trip meant the world to him. You could see it in his eyes when he talked about it. You could hear it in his voice.
One time, while I was home from college, I was playing the guitar in the living room. Grandpa came out and sat with me. He began to sing. That moment — singing with Grandpa Harold, who was in his 90s — is one I’ll never forget. It was simple, but it was sacred.
He left a mark on my life.
I remember him reading the Bible.
I remember hearing him pray from his room.
I miss that so much.
Looking back, I realize just how much of a foundation he helped lay for my own faith — my own walk with the Creator.
So today, I simply want to say:
Thank you, Grandpa.
Your faith lives on in me.













