Edward Morton Hudgins was born December 19, 1910 to Lucy Henry Morton Hudgins and Chief Justice Edward Wren Hudgins.  He received his B.D., L.L.D. and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from the University of Virginia and practiced law in both Chase City and Richmond. While Edward was in college, he enlisted in E, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, the National Guard as a Private and rose to the rank of Brigadier-General with flag rank.

During World War II, he served as military aide to Governor Almond and as White House aide to President Roosevelt.  During military travels he went to China-Burma-India theater where he remained to act as Chief Counsel for major war criminals as appointed by Secretary of Army Patterson as Chief Defense Counsel.  Edward Morton Hudgins was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Virginia Distinguished Service Medal.

On March 10, 1945 he married Mary Atherton Howard who bore him his two sons Edward Wren Hudgins II and Frank Howard Hudgins. From 1952 to 1964, Edward Morton Hudgins served six terms in the General Assembly of Virginia representing the counties of Chesterfield and Powhatan and the city of Colonial Heights.  Edward Morton Hudgins served on the legal staff of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, was President of General Claims for US.S & Canadian railroads, and eventually became Vice President of Chessie System (now CSX). 

The Edwardian Entrance in the gardens is dedicated in Edward Morton Hudgins' honor.