Joree Dudley passed away Sunday, September 28, 2025. She was born in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on July 29, 1940.
She is the daughter of Ridley Wesley Kenton and Lucille Adcock. She married Homer Lee Dudley, Jr. on November 24, 1960.
Joree is survived by her sisters-in-law, Carolyn Dudley and Marjorie Dudley; her oldest son, Kent Dudley, his wife, Michelle Dudley, and their son, Jack Queen; and her youngest son, Keith Dudley, his wife, Kimalee Dudley, and their children, Lila Dudley and Luke Dudley.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Homer Dudley; brothers-in-law, Frank Dudley and James Dudley; and sister-in-law, Anne Litchford, wife of Earl Litchford.
Joree proudly hailed from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, but moved to the small town of Palm Harbor, Florida, at the tender age of 9 years old. She graduated from Tarpon Springs High School, Class of 1958, as valedictorian, cheerleader, and member of the infamous Garter Girls basketball squad.
She raised her two children with Homer, the love of her life, on the west coast of Florida, enjoying the uncrowded local beaches. Joree’s career was with the United States Postal Service, where she enjoyed working as one of two employees in the quaint Crystal Beach Post Office. Joree retired from the Postal Service, but it was not the end of her work.
Joree and her husband were instrumental in the origination, development, and building of the Palm Harbor Church of Christ. She was active in Guardian ad Litem, women’s prison ministry, Town and Country Garden Club, and teaching Bible study classes. She was also an avid sports fan and was highly respected for her styling, décor, and decoration.
Beyond being an amazing matriarch of her family, Joree was deeply passionate in her devotion to her Lord Jesus Christ, her church, and charity. Joree was very active and engaged in College Hills Church of Christ and later in Berea Church of Christ. She was present in the pews for every service-teaching, listening, and helping her church family throughout her entire life as a devout Christian.
Her second passion was helping to run the Dudley Century Farm in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The over 100-year-old, family-owned farm was the platform for her support and involvement in Healing Hands International. Joree and Homer grew a wide variety of vegetables and produce and offered them freshly picked in a self-service stand on the farm. Locals and people from surrounding counties would come to their stand, pick whatever they desired, and place the money they thought was appropriate in a self-service box-all on the honor system.
If the shelves were picked over and inventory was thin, they would walk you out to the fields and pick with you what you wanted. It was great fun for everybody, but it also had a purpose. Proceeds from the stand went to help others. The main beneficiary of the hard work was Healing Hands International. Deep in Africa, Honduras, Haiti, and many other countries where they both served, they made a powerful impact by providing medical help, water well development, education in maximizing crop yields, and most important to her, spreading the gospel. The lasting impact was all made possible from the hard work and trust placed in people at the farm.
Joree Dudley was a Christian, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was incredibly generous, especially to those who desperately needed her help. She will be sorely missed.
Services for Joree Dudley will be at Berea Church of Christ, 50 Berea Road, Lebanon, Tennessee, on October 11, 2025, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Healing Hands International and Berea Church of Christ.
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