Eugenia Breeden Valdes

Eugenia Breeden Valdes, known by her family and friends as Gena, entered into eternal rest on February 22, 2019 at the age of 96 years old. Her funeral service will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2019 in Hibben United Methodist Church, 690 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow at her granddaughter's home, Emily Palmer Huff, from 3:00 -5:00 pm. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.

Gena was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 15, 1922, where she lived until her marriage. She loved playing the violin in high school and, after graduation, worked various secretarial jobs, including one for the Birmingham Barons baseball team, which left her with a life-long love of baseball. At the end of World War II, on a blind date, she met Joseph Franklin Valdes, who was awaiting discharge from the Army Air Force. They were married on January 19, 1946, and settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where they lived for the next 43 years. She became an active member of the Peachtree Road Methodist Church, where she taught children's Sunday School classes and served as a volunteer in local outreach missions. After raising two children, Eugenia found employment as a secretary with an insurance agent. After retirement Eugenia and Joe moved, in 1989, just in time for hurricane Hugo, to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, near their daughter Rhondy and her husband Charles Huff. Eugenia and Joe joined Hibben United Methodist, where they remained members until their deaths and Eugenia was active in church women's groups. She spent her last 3 years in Daniel Island. Two months before her death, Eugenia attended the marriage of her granddaughter, Palmer Huff, at Grace Cathedral Church in Charleston, which gave her the opportunity to spend special moments with many of those who had come to love her during her years in Mt. Pleasant. Her family will warmly remember her as a lively and conversational woman who loved to make her famous waffles, mashed potatoes, and chicken pot pie, give and receive extra long hugs, and watch baseball and The Price is Right with her grandchildren.

She is survived by son, James F. Valdes of Austin, TX; son-in-law, Charles Huff of Atlanta, GA; two granddaughters, Emily Palmer Huff of Charleston, SC and Andrea Huff Merritt of Cambridge, MD; grandson, Joe Huff of Charleston, SC; great-granddaughter, Juanita Merritt of Atlanta, GA; two nieces, Roberta Arnold of Enterprise, AL and Linda Davis of Denver, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joseph Franklin Valdes, daughter, Rhonwyn Valdes Huff and sister, Marguerite Breckenridge.

Memorials may be made to Hibben United Methodist Church, Hibben Helps or Little Free Pantry Outreach Missions, 690 Coleman Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29464.