Catherine Chambliss Dudley

Catherine Chambliss Dudley, 101 of Columbus, GA passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at St. Francis Hospital.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, December 16, 2023 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd, Columbus, GA 31907 with Reverend Danny Roberts and Reverend Gary Richardson officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

Catherine was born June 9th 1922, in Alexander City, AL, daughter of the late William and Marguerite Rush. She graduated from Opelika High School in 1940 and married her first husband and father of her children, William M. Chambliss, in 1944. Together they lived in Columbus all of their lives and were blessed with 53 years of marriage. She retired from the Muscogee County School District as an executive secretary after many years of service.

Catherine, lovingly referred to as “Ms. Grumpy” by her Church family was a member of Glenn Anthony Baptist Church. She remained active in her church and many social activities until her eyesight completely failed. She was a faithful prayer warrior to all her family and friends. Catherine left behind for all of us an example of how to handle physical adversity in life with dignity and grace.

Other than her parents Catherine was preceded in death by her first husband, William M. Chambliss, her second husband, Melvin D. Dudley, her granddaughter, Melissa Sue Deal, her son-in-law, George J. Zenni, her sister, Mary Will Tate and her brother, William Cleveland Rush.

Survivors include her two daughters, Barbara C. Zenni of Jacksonville, FL, Deborah C. Griffin of Columbus, GA, five grandchildren, Jimmy (Jen) Williams of Charleston, SC, Brian (Anna) Williams of Midland, GA, Christie Myhand of Columbus, GA, Susan E. Zenni of Jacksonville, FL, Matthew J. Zenni of Jacksonville, FL, ten great grandchildren, Ashley (Logan) Taylor, James C. Williams, Austin Hilton, Mikayla Zenni, Peyton (Austin) Chalmers, Emma Williams, Owen Williams, Jaida Zenni, Tegan Zenni and Brantley Zenni, and eight great great grandchildren, Ryder Williams, Liam Hilton, Sa’Rae Stevens, Aiden Hilton, Raegan Chalmers, Killian Williams, Ky’Lin Lance and Cullen Chalmers.

A very special thanks to Catherine’s very dedicated caregivers, Lesley Walker, Earline Lewis, Julie Forest and Lynda Owens, who loved and cared for her during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Rd, Columbus, GA 31909