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Obituary For Jeanne M. Rudd
Jeanne Marie Rudd was born April 1, 1932 in New Haven, CT, the youngest of three children born to the late William Henry David Lanier, Sr. and the late Mary Evelyn Weeks Lanier. She departed this life on Sunday, March 28, 2021.
Jeanne received her elementary and high school education in New Haven, and was a member of the Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church, where she sang in the youth choir and attended services with her entire family. A self-taught pianist, she would accompany her mother when she performed at concerts. In 1947, after her mother passed, the family moved to Sedalia, NC where she attended the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia. In 1949, she graduated from the high school division of Immanuel Lutheran College in Greensboro, NC.
In 1950, after one year at the North Carolina College for Negroes in Durham, NC (now North Carolina Central University), she was married to the love of her life, the late James (Dick) Rudd, Sr., of Sedalia, NC. Jeanne and her husband of 48 years helped to raise his deceased sister's three children: Raymond, Jesse and Dorothy Troxler, (all deceased). In 1970, she graduated Cum Laude from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC with a BS Degree in Office Administration. She later attended the graduate School of A&T.
In Sedalia, she joined the St. James United Methodist Episcopal Church where she held many offices including: Chairperson of the Administrative Council; Pianist; Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher; Director of the Senior Choir; Advisor to the Young Adult Choir; Treasurer; Chairperson of the Finance Committee; President of the Usher Board; Secretary of the United Methodist Women; Church Corresponding Secretary; Trustee; Liturgist; Certified Lay Speaker and preparer of the weekly bulletin and other programs.
Jeanne's employment history included Secretary at Sedalia Public School; Assistant Registrar at Palmer Memorial Institute; 15 years at North Carolina A&T State University, and Manager of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum at the Historic Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, NC.
Jeanne founded and directed the Brown Memorial Singers and the Shining Stars Community Choir, was director and cast member of a musical drama "The Old Ship of Zion", and was also a wedding director and consultant. She wrote a column entitled "In The East" for the Carolina Peacemaker (a prominent African American newspaper in Greensboro), and composed poetry for family and friends, a tribute to her mother was published in "Verses, Verses and Visions: Taking Shape."
Jeanne served as Councilwoman and Mayor of the Town of Sedalia; President, Historian and Treasurer of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historical Foundation, Inc.; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Piedmont Teen Challenge, Inc. She received numerous citations and recognitions.
In addition to her parents, husband and baby son, she is predeceased by: sister, Evelyn Joyce Lanier Radcliffe and brother-in-law, Lloyd Leslie; brother, William Henry David Lanier, Jr. and sister-in-law, Yvonne; step mother Myrtle ‘Momsie’ Foust Lanier; nephew, Lloyd Radcliffe.
Those left to cherish Jeanne's memory are: son, James Rudd, Jr., Sedalia, NC; nieces Yeskah Radcliffe, San Antonio, TX; Dean Radcliffe Lynes (Austin), Baltimore, MD; Leslie Radcliffe, New Haven, CT; Lynn Radcliffe, Euclid, OH; Annette Radcliffe-Mills (Michael), and Kelley Radcliffe Slade, both of Whitsett, NC; nephew, Gilbert Radcliffe, New Haven, CT; several great nieces and nephews; loving cousins; "devoted daughter" Patricia Brown Fitzgerald (Rev. Larry); and several ‘daughters’, ‘sisters’, several nieces, nephews, cousins, God children, close friends and her St. James Church Family. The family also thanks her caregivers LaVerne Hedrick and Antoinette Williams for their compassion and dedicated service.
A public viewing will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 4pm- 6pm in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel. A private graveside service honoring her life will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at St. James United Methodist Church Cemetery Sedalia, NC.
Services entrusted to Perry J. Brown Funeral Home (336)-272-6109.
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Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and words of comfort and encouragement. God had blessed my Aunt Jeanne to be a blessing to so many others. She will be missed, however when you think of her, share a smile and bless someone. Annette J Radcliffe-Mills
My gratitude to my best friend, Annette J. Radcliffe-Mills for introducing me to Aunt Jeanne, her husband and son James well over 32 years ago. Aunt Jeanne was a fierce protectress and an incredible lady of strength, devotion, courage, talent, humor and charisma. I am honored to have been able to spend time with her on my visits to North Carolina and made to feel a part of her family. She had so much love to give and I am blessed to have been a recipient.
May she be at peace and at home in Heaven with God, her loving husband, son, family and friends gone before her. And may they all look down and shine their light upon, guide, protect and keep their collective arms and spirit around her son James Jr. and those of us whom mourn her loss.
I offer my appreciation, prayers,sympathy and strength to her nieces Kelly and Annette, her son James Jr. and all of those, whom lovingly cared for Aunt Jeanne until her peaceful transition.
Pamela R. Lopes, Woodbridge, CT
A compassionate and caring person who was always there for everyone in the community. RIP. Rayvon Wheeler
A compassionate and caring person who always was there for everyone in the community. RIP. Rayvon Wheeler
I extend my condolences to the family of Mrs. Jeanne Rudd. As a graduate of Palmer Memorial Institute and a member of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historical Foundation, I knew Mrs. Rudd as a kind and principled woman who loved Palmer and Dr. Brown and was dedicated to their legacy. Kay Gordon Brandon
Jeanne, what a gracious and gentle lady, heartfelt sympathy to the Rudd Family. Claude and Mary Crews Hubert, NC
Rudolph and Sandra Singleton, Jennie Ann Graves, Fay Singleton
Ms. Rudd will be greatly missed by her Teen Challenge family. She was a blessing to the leadership of this ministry. We all loved her and thought very highly of her. She had a kind heart and loved helping others. There is no doubt she was welcomed with the words, "Well done, enter into your reward." All our love, Dr. Bob & Debbie Harman, and the Board of Directors of Greater Piedmont Adult & Teen Challenge, Greensboro.
My condolences are extended to the family. Mrs.Jeanne left an awesome legacy of a life well lived. God bless you
Condolences are extended to the family, as you celebrate the life of Mrs. Jeanne who left a wonderful legacy of a life well lived.
Aunt Jeanne was a wonderful woman and she will truly be missed. RIP Aunt Jeanne, we all love you! Condolences to the family!
Jeanne was a remarkable lady. We were privileged to have known Jeanne through her faithful service for many years on the Board of Directors of Greater Piedmont Adult and Teen Challenge. We will certainly miss her and her strong Christian influence. May God bless her family and bring comfort in this time of loss. You will all be in our prayers. With our love in Christ, Jack and Linda Stitt, Burlington, NC.
Jeanne (as she like to be call) was a kind, giving, lovable, considerate, a leader and much more. She open up her home for Bible Study and served food to us, always giving. She was the epitome of love. Our sincere condolences to the Family. Smilen and Nan Neal.
Aunt
I remember Mrs Rudd when she was secretary at Sedalia School back in the 60s She was so sweet and kind Prayers for her family
Mrs. Rudd will be missed so much. She was always smiling and offering words of encouragement to all. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Sending prayers and condolences to the family of Mrs. Jeanne Rudd😘. She was a well known woman of God. She will be missed by many.. Another angel the Lord has called home. Love always Traci, Ariel, Taej'won, Royal and Majeste!!!!!
Sending prayers and condolences to the family of Mrs. Jeanna Rudd😘.. Gone but never will you be forgotten.. we love you
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ms. Jeanne as we have mixed feelings of her passing. We are happy she is rejoicing in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but we are saddened and will miss her attendance in board meetings at Greater Piedmont Adult and Teen Challenge. Larry & Donna Tyrell Board Member
Rest in peace my friend. We will never forget you and your kindness. Walk with the Lord my friend, walk with the Lord. Carol Ferguson and Cathy Roberson
With prayers and thoughts to the family of Mrs. (Aunt) Jeanne L. Rudd we send words of comfort. Aunt Jeanne was a pillar of the Sedalia Community. She was truly a great humanitarian and community organizer with her work in her home church, the old Shining Stars Community Singers, the Old Ship of Zion annual productions, the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial Site and many other events and groups that brought together people of all ages. We loved you and will truly miss your presence. May God comfort you all. Toni T. Lamberth and M. Kevin Lamberth
Jeanne will always be in my memories when I think of Sedalia. Rest in Peace Jeanne you will be missed. Ophelia
There are no words to express my sadness as we learn of this news. Jeanne Rudd was truly a pillar of strength and encouragement to me, my family, and to the Sedalia community. She loved and she lived well. It was an honor to sit under her guidance during her term as Mayor of the Town of Sedalia. Jeanne Rudd will be missed. Extended prayers to the family.
The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historical Foundation, Inc. sends it's condolences in the loss of the Honorable Jeanne Lanier Rudd who enjoyed a deed association with the Foundation and the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum at Historic Palmer Memorial Institute and the town of Sedalia. Mrs. Rudd served as the first president of the of the Foundation and later served as the manager of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum and later as treasurer. Her wise counsel was vital to the growth and development of the Museum and as mayor of the Town of Sedalia. We rejoice in her memory and the work that she has done and my family who attended and worked at Palmer Memorial Institute have always held her in high esteem. Andre D. Vann-Pres. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Foundation and Hawkins Family Member
Aunt Jeanne was a phenomenal woman and trailblazer for the Sedalia NC community. If anything needed to be done or get done in the community, Aunt Jeanne lead the charge. She was a fierce advocate for her beloved family and church. She knew no strangers. All were welcome. Sedalia may have lost a trooper, but her admirable spirit will always be present. Love you Aunt Jeanne. Arthur A Totten
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