Louise Roudebush Obituary in Durham at American Cremation and Funeral Service

Obituary For Louise Roudebush

Louise Roudebush passed into eternity in her sleep July 9, 2023. She is preceded in death by her eldest son. Louise leaves behind a large family of daughters, sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, beloved cousins and faithful dog, Benji.

Louise moved to Durham, NC in 1980 as a single mother with three of her younger children in tow. She quickly started a daycare that evolved into a boarding school and children’s home that would become her entire life’s work. For the next 4 decades, “Aunt Louise” took in children whose parents couldn’t take care of them.

To the many children that passed through Agape Corner, to the local volunteers, and to her own family, Louise Roudebush was easy to admire, though at times difficult to love. She was persistent in her desire to guide people to a better place. To the many that felt unloved and unlovable, she was willing to try and help them see their worth. Dedicating the majority of her time and effort to this work, the resulting strain on her own children has left behind the legacy of a broken, but ever lovely and resilient family.

Durham today has a significant population of people that were positively affected by Louise’s work at Agape Corner. Some found the only home and only family they would ever know as children in Louise and the volunteers that served tours of duty at her side. Many of these children have grown up and are now independent adults. Several were adopted into the families of volunteers. For hundreds of college students and church members concerned from a distance by the poverty that existed only a short distance from their own homes, Agape Corner is the place where they met the poor for the first time and began learning to serve the marginalized. It was often a bumpy ride. Through it all, Louise ran Agape Corner her way.

Anyone that knew Louise understood quickly that she was an outspoken Christian. She wanted nothing more than to share the good news of Christ’s love and redemption with everyone. As Tim Keller famously wrote “The Gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” As his words have challenged a generation of readers, Louise Roudebush’s life challenged a generation in Durham and beyond. To the proud, she provided the knowledge to believe they were actually broken. To the broken, she provided the truth to believe they were loved. She wasn’t a savior, but she knew Jesus, the One that is, and He loved her. We will think of her often as we try to love like the Savior that changed her life forever.

According to her wishes, Louise’s family will have a small private ceremony to spread her ashes in the North Carolina mountains.

In Lieu of flowers, we encourage you to donate to the charity of your choice.

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Richard Williamson sent Heartfelt Memories for Louise Roudebush - July 10, 2023

For all my Aunt Louise has done for me I will never forget I am truly heartbroken for the lost of such a beautiful soul, but I know the Lord called her home. God bless you Aunt Louise.

Send flowers for Louise Roudebush

My heart is torn but strengthen. You redirected my life along with so many others like me. Your legacy and work continues. I'm grateful for your mentorship, relationship, and friendship. Until we meet again!!
Love you,
Heyward Jackson, Jr.

Aunt Louise will be miss she a loving person I'll be praying for the family love god will be with yall

I thank God for your life all the people you touched with the love of Christ. I am so honored to have been one of them. I look forward to being with you again and worship the Father together with all the saints. I will miss you.Q

Louise was a wonderful friend to me. I met her as a volunteer at the Agape School. I truly admired her relentless pursuit of wanting children to know the Lord Jesus and follow his ways! She wanted all children protected from adverse family situations and evil doers. Many of us are now seeing the movie, "Sound of Freedom", about Tim Ballard's heroic efforts to save children from sex slavery. Louise devoted forty years on her mission to rescue children as well! May her legacy live on through all our lives.

Aunt Louise touched the lives of so many. I am glad to have known her. Praying for all those who feel this loss .

Rest in paradise Aunt Louise, I will never forget you. Kia

I am honored to meet and know you in my life, Aunt Louise. You helped me through so many difficult times in my life. You taught me to be steadfast in my faith and to trust Him always. Love, Melissa I miss you dearly. I'll give you a great big hug when we meet in heaven with Jesus 😇

Aunt Louise will always be remembered as a mentor to our family and children. She will be missed. Now that she is with Jesus, I am certain that he has told her, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

" think of the good things " some of the few last words I heard from Louise. She was my best friend Susan

We Love You and will Miss you dearly, thank you for all that you have taught me and all the love that you gave us. We love you so much! Rest well, and Someday we will see you again.

Your willingness to give of your self and help others will live in infamy.

As most people are, Louise was a very complicated human, and so were my feelings for her. I recognize she did a lot for me that my family never did, and for that, I am grateful. I wish her love, light and serenity. I wish the same for her loved ones. Sunflowers will forever remind me of her as her daughter and I painted the kitchen with them for her. I regret that I am currently across the country. Rest in peace. - Aleshia Torres

Josephine Foster

Louise spent a large part of her life giving of herself to those who needed someone to just simply care about them. While she was often absent in her own family, she was an incredibly positive influence in the lives of many children that desperately needed love and direction. Louise will be missed dearly, but her spirit will go on in the lives of the children that she helped grow into productive adults. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Jill Roudebush

Thank you for sharing your mother with so many.

Louise Roudebuch was truly one of a kind who never backed down from her Christian beliefs and had no fear in sharing the truths of the gospel with everyone she met. I will miss running across her while out shopping or seeing her at family gatherings. I imagine that there are many in heaven who are greeting her with joy as they are only there because Louise shared the gospel with them.

I am so happy I met you and you are truly a god sent gift to the world.I know my life would have never been as successful and true without you in my life. I truly love you because you taught me so many things about loving and the will of the Lord... You are absolutely a true believer so I know you can never die just as the Lord's word.... I am so grateful I had the opportunity to speak to you for the last time and in my heart we both knew it was,but just as the soldier for the Lord you are you carried on with the Lords will...I will truly miss you and in no way can express the gratitude that being within your world means to me.... But I know you are good because you loved the Lord every minute of your life.... God bless you my Aunt Louise....

I'm so glad I had the privilege to know you, Louise Roudebush. You are one of a kind, and we will miss you here, but I'm glad that you have joined the great cloud of witnesses and that we will see you again in glory.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there mom but know I will see you again thank you for always loving me and caring for me even when I didn't deserve your love but I know you always loved me no matter what I love you dearly mom ...rest in heavenly peace 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

American Cremation and Funeral Service | Durham, NC