Geneva Dudley

On September 6, 2023 the matriarch of our family Geneva Dudley passed away unexpectedly at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.  She was born to the union of Leonard and Margaret (Griggs) Reynolds in Greenwood, Mississippi on April 2, 1930. Her family later moved to Memphis, Tennessee where she attended Lincoln Grade School and Booker T. Washington High School.

Geneva relocated to Chicago, where she met and united in marriage with Oscar Dudley.  They became the proud parents of nine children.  Lesley, Stanley, Oscar, Gwendolyn, Fredrick, Christopher, Kenneth, Winfrey and Bruce. Her gift from God was a beautiful singing voice.  She used her gift to bless our home as she sang songs of prayer to us like, “Jesus Be a Fence All Around Me”, “He’ll Fight My Battles for Me” and letting us know, “Yes God is Real”.  We carry these songs in our hearts to this day.

Not only did she bless our home, but God led her to use her voice since childhood, singing in her high school Glee Club and as a member of The Gospel Writer Junior Girls group.  Then as a member of the Gospel Caravan that traveled across the United States. When she moved to Chicago she joined Mount Eagle Baptist Church under Pastor Jimmie Rodgers then Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Amos Waller. Her powerful soprano can be heard to this day on the recordings of the Mercy Seat choir and as a member of the Lucy Rodgers Singers.

In 1969 Geneva moved her family to South Bend, Indiana to give her children a safer living environment. She worked for the South Bend School Corporation as a Title I tutor. She then was employed for many years at Thermoplastics in Mishawaka, Indiana.  She loved her Thermo family and as she often said, she would still have been working there if they had not relocated.

In the early 1970s she joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor F.D. Johnson, where she remained a member until her passing. Her Sunday schedule started at Macedonia Sunday School and morning service then if another church was having an afternoon service she would go there, then if a church had an evening service she would go there. Mom loved church.

Preceding her in death are, husband Oscar Dudley, mother Margaret Clark, father Leonard Reynolds and stepmother Willa Dale Reynolds, son Fredrick Dudley and granddaughter Alicia Smith. Siblings sister Bessie Lewis, brothers Elijah Reynolds and Clifford Reynolds.

Surviving family members include, children Lesley (Evelyn West) Dudley, Stanley Dudley, Oscar Dudley, Gwendolyn (Jimmy) Troupe, Christopher (Wanda) Dudley, Winfrey Dudley, Kenneth Dudley, Bruce (Kristi) Dudley and a special daughter Geraldine Hudson.  Grandchildren, Lesley (Virginia) Dudley, Jr., Randell Dudley, Jeremiah Watts, Demetri’us Cleveland, Ava Dudley, Latisha Dudley, Chantyl Troupe, Langston Troupe, Antoine (Ahijia) Dudley, Janelle Dudley, Christopher (Tori) Dudley, II, Erika (Maurice Walker) Dudley, Danielle Gentry-Hampton, Nicholas Dudley, Bruce Dudley II, Shikela (John) Dickson, Terry Hudson, Jernina Hudson, Teresae Nelson and Anthony Hudson.  Several great and great-great grandchildren. Siblings Edna Smith, Barbara (Booker) Howard, Leonard (Helen) Reynolds and Wyverns (Bernard) Vann.  Many cousins, nieces and nephews.

To all Mom’s friends she loved you dearly!

Visitation 9/15 Friday 6PM-7PM at Macedonia MB Church. Celebration of Life Saturday 9/16 at 11:00 AM with a Viewing One-Hour Prior at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church 1862 N. Olive St. South Bend, In. 46628. Pastor/Teacher Ray E. Owens. Arrangements are entrusted to www.boydandsonfuneralhome.com

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