Mrs. Paula Haynes Hudgins, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Gainesville, Georgia. She was born to the late Telford and Elizabeth Wilbanks on November 3, 1938 in Demorest, Georgia.

A funeral service will be held in the Chapel at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Dr. Dwayne Mercer and Dr. Michael Haynes will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery in Lula, GA. The family will receive friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Monday, October 12, 2026 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Mrs. Hudgins is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Truitt Haynes and husband, Kenneth Hudgins; sisters, Priscilla Waters, Leila Cantrell, Phyllis Johnson; brother, Stephen Wilbanks; and granddaughter, Kayla Chaffin.

She is survived by her daughters, Melissa Chaffin Barton of Hernando, FL; Pam Mercer (Dwayne) of Gainesville, GA; Jennifer Maney (Mark) of Clermont, GA; son, Michael Haynes (Debra) of Moncks Corner, SC; grandchildren: Michael Haynes II, Christy Maddox, Brandon Mercer, Jarred Mercer, Lauren Mercer, Ethan Chaffin, Jordan Chaffin, Zachary Chaffin, Molly Maney, Clayton Maney; and 21 great-great grandchildren; sisters: Elaine Maxwell of Baldwin, GA, Sylvia Mason of Baldwin, GA, Joan Bradley of Rockmart, GA, Rosemary Williams of Baldwin, GA, Karen Graves of Fayetteville, GA; brothers: Col. Ronald Wilbanks of Charlotte, NC. and Tim Wilbanks of Bradenton, FL.

We, the Family, want to thank Family Hospice of Northeast Georgia for their compassionate care and kindness.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504 is in charge of the arrangements.

Send online condolences to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com

This announcement is courtesy of McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home (706/778-8668) of Cornelia, Georgia.