Catherine Agness Martin Hudgins (Cathy Hudgins) of Reston (1944-2025)
Catherine M. Hudgins, who represented the Hunter Mill district on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1999 to 2019, died on Saturday, May 24. Hudgins worked to transform Fairfax County into a progressive, inclusive jurisdiction that prioritized all residents, including those traditionally marginalized in community planning and infrastructure development.
Hudgins' legacy continues in the vibrant, diverse communities she helped build and the transportation infrastructure that now connects thousands of residents. Hudgins was the first African American woman elected to the Board of Supervisors.
“I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Catherine Hudgins this weekend. Most knew Cathy through her 20 years of public service as Hunter Mill District Supervisor, and she left an enduring legacy in Hunter Mill and across all of Fairfax County,” said Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) on Facebook.
“Cathy co-created the One Fairfax policy and the creation of the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team. … Cathy truly helped make the world a better place, and for that, we are all grateful. Thank you, Cathy, for all you did and for your life of service,” Alcorn said.
Born in 1944 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Hudgins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas and relocated to Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, Willie J. Hudgins Jr. She and her husband moved to Reston in 1969.
“This hurts deep. We just honored her a couple [of] weeks ago,” said Amanda Misiko Andere on Instagram. “Supervisor Cathy Hudgins was simply the best. My friend and mentor. A true fighter for those at the sharpest intersection of marginalization.”
Hudgins worked to bring the Metro Silver Line service to Tysons and beyond. Hudgins saw the Silver Line as more than just a transit project. She viewed the Silver Line as an extension of Metro service to previously underserved areas, catalyzing economic growth and improving the quality of life for many families in the community. The project ultimately connected Tysons to Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles International Airport and beyond, fundamentally reshaping regional transportation and economic infrastructure.
“It is with an already heavy heart that I learned of the passing of former Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins,” said Jeff McKay (D), chairman of the Board of Supervisors, in an emailed update. “Cathy was a friend and, as seatmates on the dais, I appreciated the insights she provided from our years serving together. A regional leader, Cathy and I also spent many years together representing Fairfax County on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Board, bringing an equity lens to regional transportation efforts.”
Hudgins served on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board for 11 years, including a term as chairman from 2011 to 2012. During that time, Hudgins was instrumental in spearheading WMATA’s governance, including adopting the agency's first bylaws and a modernized code of ethics.
In addition to transportation, Hudgins was a passionate advocate for human services and affordable housing. Her work focused on building inclusive and equitable neighborhoods and providing services to often-overlooked communities. She chaired the board's Human Services and Housing Committee. Hudgins was a key figure in the South Gate Community Center, championing it from conception to completion. Her efforts transformed the center into a vibrant community hub, renamed in 2021 in her honor.
Throughout her career, Hutchins received numerous awards, including the Community Builders Award, an NAACP honor, and the Wayne F. Anderson Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Hudgins is survived by her sister, Dolores Muse; two sons, Michael and Tony; daughter-in-law, Sarah Wolf; and two granddaughters. She was predeceased by her husband.
www.lylesfuneralservice.net/obituary/catherine-hudgins
Funeral: June 6, 2025, Saint Thomas à Becket Catholic Church, 1421 Wiehle Ave., Reston. Visitation: 10-11 a.m.; Service 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Reception: 12:30-1:45 p.m.