William S. "Billy" Hudgins

William S. “Billy” Hudgins, 85, of Virginia Beach, passed away on March 10, 2026. Born in Norfolk to the late Hazel Stonecypher Hudgins and Littleton C. Hudgins, he grew up in Princess Anne County. He attended Princess Anne High School and graduated from Oak Ridge Military Academy before earning his Bachelor’s degree from Campbell College, where his memorable “chitterlings on a heater” prank left a lasting impression on his dorm.

At heart, Billy was a farmer. Though many in Tidewater knew him through his years as a real estate developer with his brother in the 1980s and 1990s, his true passion remained the land. In 1992, he and his wife founded Stoney’s Produce on First Colonial Road. As “Mr. Stoney,” he became a beloved figure for bringing farm-fresh produce, quality nursery plants, and seasonal delights—tomatoes, corn, strawberries, and Christmas trees—to the heart of Virginia Beach. He delighted suburban families with quirky entertainment, from corn-shucking dogs and potbellied pigs to pygmy goats on high wires, turning the stand into a true local institution. Even after his retirement in 2015, he was frequently greeted by former customers who still called him Mr. Stoney.

Billy cherished the outdoors and formed lifelong friendships in duck blinds, fishing boats, and on ski slopes from Colorado to abroad. He was among the original group that began the Hope Haven Hunter’s Feast on Knotts Island, an annual gathering that combined camaraderie and conservation while supporting Hope Haven Children’s Home and the Union Mission. Known as both a dedicated conservationist and a spirited adventurer, he will be greatly missed in those fields and mountains.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Lynn Hudgins; his son, Marc J. Semago (Rachel); his granddaughter, Charlotte Semago; his niece, Hazel Hunter (Scott); his nephews, William F. Hudgins, Robert Stanley Hudgins II, and Littleton C. Hudgins; and many extended family members and friends who shared in his well-lived life.