By MATT COLE and JUSTIN AVERETTE | The Selma Times-Journal

This week family and friends are remembering Jimmy Hudgens, the 28-year-old Demopolis man killed Saturday night while confronting two car burglars in Selma.

Several of Hudgens’ friends say he was good friend and went out of his way to help other people.

“Ever since middle school, I had the privilege of calling Jimmy my best friend,” Kurt Krusmark said. “We were raised together. He was a great guy who would do anything for anybody. He had just gotten married and moved back to Demopolis and into a house. He loved his wife and his family.”

Loyal, intelligent and funny were words friends used to describe Hudgens, who leaves behind a wife of one year, Melissa.

“When I think of Jimmy, the first things that come to mind are that he was loyal, smart and funny,” said Elliott Glass, another close friend. “He would do anything for you. With Jimmy, humor and intellect went hand-in-hand. He could give a perspective on life — or anything for that matter — that would make you laugh and make you think. He was one of a kind.”

Catherine Meador, whose son William grew up with Hudgens, said he was at her house often as a child.

“My son grew up with him, and he was always here for birthday parties and things like that,” she said. “He had a big heart and a big smile. It’s hard to believe he won’t be here. We were so glad to have him back in the community, and he was already getting involved in things like Christmas on the River. He was back in the city he loved. It’s really unbelievable.”

Hudgens graduated from Demopolis High School in 2005 and continued his education at Auburn University.

He came back home to work at his family insurance business and married Melissa in March 2014. Other survivors include his parents, James Hudgens III and Kay Hudgens, and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, March 19 with 1 p.m. visitation at First United Methodist Church Demopolis. His funeral will follow at 2 p.m. with a service at the church and interment at Riverside Cemetery.

The two men accused of shooting Hudgens are in the Dallas County Jail without bond. Devontae Jiles and Kendarious Brown face charges of capital murder, unlawful breaking/entering of a vehicle and attempted unlawful breaking/entering of a vehicle.

District Attorney Michael Jackson said Hudgens heard a loud noise at his uncle’s house in the 500 block of Dallas Avenue around 10:15 p.m. and went outside, where he confronted Brown breaking into a vehicle on the property.

Police believe he didn’t see Jiles, who shot a 12-gauge shotgun twice, striking Hudgens once in the face.

Hudgens was transported to a Montgomery hospital by medical helicopter, where he died early Sunday morning.

Jiles and Brown were arrested a short time later returning to their vehicle, according to Selma detectives. The suspects are next scheduled to appear in court on April 7.