Russell F Dudley

Funeral services for Mr. Russell Fowlkes Dudley, age 79, will be held Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 1 pm at Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home North Chapel, Fruitland, with burial to follow at Harpers Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 am until service time. Mr. Dudley passed from this life on May 25, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Dudley was born May 1, 1943, in Braggadocio, MO. He attended Braggadocio High School. He attended Barber School in Memphis, TN. On July 15, 1963, he married Jo A Ledford. Mr. Dudley and his wife moved to Trenton in 1965. In March 1965, Mr. Dudley opened his first barber shop, Dudley’s Barber Shop, located on 10th Street. In 1984, Mr. Dudley moved to his 3rd location on the 45 By-Pass and opened Dudley’s Barber and Gun Shop. The shop became a local landmark and gathering place. Mr. Dudley loved life. He loved people, he loved work, and he loved the Lord. He loved to talk and he never met a stranger. This was all exemplified in his daily routine. He was always willing to lend a helping hand. No job was too large or too small. In his lifetime, Mr. Dudley had lots of jobs and he enjoyed each one of them. In 2018, due to failing health, it became necessary to close the Barber Shop. Still, Mr. Dudley was a familiar face around town mowing yards, doing odd jobs for neighbors or peddling his wares in the Barber Shop parking lot. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and anytime he could ride his tractor. Mr. Dudley was a faithful member of the New Hope Church of Christ where he was the song leader. He also attended the Sitka Church of Christ on Sunday nights to lead the song service. Mr. Dudley was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Warrington Dudley and Cassie B. Walton Dudley; brother, Noel Dudley, Joe Dudley; sisters, Nona B. McDaniel, and Cassie Mae Dudley Johnson. Mr. Dudley is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo A. Ledford; sons, Russell Howard (Maria) of Niceville, FL, Joseph Allan (Jaime) of Trenton, Jonathan David (Ellen) of Trenton; grandchildren, Jason (Sasha) and Tyler Dudley, Patrick and Emma Dudley, Dallas, Elsie, Hank, and Evelyn Dudley, Kadince Ferguson; great grandchild, Nikolas Dudley. He will be greatly missed by many. No family birthday will be the same without his strong baritone voice leading the first note of Happy Birthday. While the family is saddened with their loss, they find comfort in knowing that Mr. Dudley is finally free from pain and at peace with his Lord. In lieu of flowers, the family ask for donations to be made to New Hope Church of Christ, 215 Gibson Hwy, Trenton, TN 38382.