John Hudson Riddick

John Hudson Riddick (April 1, 1848 – August 5, 1895) was an educator, community leader, and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Norfolk, Virginia, city council. He was an AME minister at a number of churches and a leader in the Washington and Delaware Conferences of the church.

Early life and education John Hudson Riddick was born a slave on April 1, 1848, in Sunbury, North Carolina. He was owned by Rev. Isaac Riddick Hunter, and they moved to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1857. When the American Civil War (1861–1865) started, Riddick served his master as a body servant. Later he left Hunter and served as a hospital steward for the 7th New York Independent Light Artillery until 1864. In 1864 he served at the custom-house in Norfolk under Major J. H. Hudson. When Hudson was removed after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by his successor President Andrew Johnson, Riddick moved to northeast Pennsylvania and began studying theology under Samuel G. Ortor. He then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and continued to study theology and medicine, He was active in support of the Maryland temperance campaign of Frances Harper and William Daniel. and was chief in protest of the murders of African Americans in the Danville Massacre in 1883.

Personal life Riddick married Amelia A. Riddick became sick from tuberculosis in April 1893. Ridick died in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, on August 5, 1893. His funeral was at the Bainbridge Street Methodist Episcopal Church and buried at Olive Cemetery. He was survived by two children and his wife, who died April 4, 1895.