Attorney Godrey David Dudley, Sr. formerly of Bessemer, Ala.
passed on Thursday, November 7, 2013 – Funeral is Friday, November 15, in Washington, D.C.
Godfrey David Dudley peacefully departed this earthly life on November 7, 2013 with his family by his side. He was the oldest of seven children born to Walter Lee Dudley and Ethel Collins’ Dudley in Bessemer, Alabama on March 14, 1944. Godfrey graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1962 and matriculated with a Bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee Institute (University) in 1967. While a student at Tuskegee Institute, Godfrey pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was also selected as an exchange student with the University of Michigan. Upon graduation from Tuskegee Institute, he was selected to continue his studies for the summer at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Godfrey attended Howard University Law School obtaining a Juris Doctorate in 1970.
In 1971, he was wed to Philippine “Penni” Thomas of Washington, D.C., whom he adored and loved as his wife and friend. He was a loving father who provided for the three children he was blessed with from this union. Of importance to Godfrey was providing for his family and encouraging his children to set goals, follow dreams, and become the best they could be. He was a wonderful role model for his children and to others. He taught the value of togetherness by extending family ties beyond our households to others. He taught the importance of accepting people as they are and was an advocate for the less fortunate. Most importantly, he taught to live each day as if it were the last. Godfrey was and still is an inspiration for all of us to follow.
After graduating law school, Godfrey briefly worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in its Birmingham, Alabama district office. In late 1970, he transferred to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) division of Enforcement Litigation, Office of Appeals in Washington, D.C. In this office, Godfrey was successfully promoted to the Senior Attorney position and from 1976 through 1979, he served as a Supervisory Attorney. In September 1979, Godfrey was promoted to the position of Deputy Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, Division of Operations-Management, where he was responsible for coordinating the administration and management of field offices in the Eastern, Northwestern, and Southern regions of the U.S. While employed at the National Labor Relations Board, Godfrey was the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding performance.
Godfrey was as competitive and successful in sports as he had been in his professional life. Godfrey played softball on NLRB’s softball team, participated in fishing adventures, and played golf with his buddies. After retiring, he was able to spend more time on things he loved to do and found himself spending more time on the golf course. He spent so much of his time at the golf course that he was asked to become one of the staff members. Having a part-time job at the golf course, allowed him to stay involved in the golf community and allowed him to develop new and endearing friendships.
He enjoyed taking his grandchildren to the golf course so that he could teach and pass down his knowledge of the game. Just as he was with his own children, he was so proud of each and every one of his grandchildren.
Godfrey was preceded in death by his father, sister-Louise, and brother–Walter. He leaves his devoted wife Penni; sons, Godfrey, Jr., Kenneth (Dana) and daughter Stephanie. A devoted mother Ethel C. Dudley, brother George (Maple); sisters Mureldene Jackson (Jimmy), Barbara Anne Snead (Anthony), Sharetta Dudley, LaFrences O’Neal (Gary). Grandchildren, Olivia, Jair, Rashawn, Kamryn, Alex, Kenneth Jr., Marco, Bryce, Madison, Daniel, and Julia. Sister-in-law Dorothy Waters (Tommy); brother-in-law Phillip Thomas (Adrienne), brother-in-law Keith Thomas; sister-in-law Bridgette Biscoe (Michael).
The burden for each of us now is to accept the torch he has passed to us. He has run his race and it is now up to us. The greatest tribute each of us can make on his behalf is to love and be loved, stay close as a family and never do less than your best. That is the torch we must carry from here.
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
We are not quite prepared to face life’s darkest hours alone. At such a time the thoughtful expressions of family and friends in so many ways make the burden seem lighter. Your love, deeds, kind words, calls, cards prayers and other acts of kindness have been received with profound gratitude. We thank each and every one of you and may God bless you!
A very special thanks to the Community Hospices of Washington.
The Family
