William Randolph "Bud" Dudley, Jr.

Mr. William Randolph Dudley, Jr., better known as “Bud”, passed away suddenly but peacefully on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at his residence in Elberton, GA. 

Mr. Dudley was born in Richmond, VA on May 8, 1953, son of the late William Randolph Dudley, Sr. and Mary Laura Ammons Dudley. Bud studied art and design at Ball State University and served as President of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 

Bud’s career focused around many aspects in restaurant and dining service design and construction. He partnered in the Atlanta design firm, Southern Express, later moved to Compass Group, and culminated his career at the Royston Group as a Senior Project Manager. He and his wife Deb also owned Martin-Dudley Studios where they focused on restaurant design and functional restaurant decor for nearly ten years. 

Bud attended New Bethel United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and loved attending bible study. A designer and multi-disciplined artist at heart, he masterfully brought his concepts to life, most recently through the stained-glass sculptures created at Coldwater Bleau Studio. He was an avid football fan who enjoyed cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs as well as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Bud was also known by his friends and family for his passion and knowledge of music and musicians, spanning the genres of Bluegrass through Classic Rock.

Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Deborah Colleen Martin of Elberton; sons that he loved as his own: Martin Tyler Shadle and his wife Jennifer of Mount Pleasant, SC and Austin Allen Shadle and his wife Laurie of Richmond, IN; grandchildren who adored their “Ol’ Pa”: Drake Allen Shadle, Carissa Joy Shadle, Bowman Lee Shadle, and Stella Brielle Shadle; sisters: Carol Williams and her husband Rex of Muncie, IN and Nancee Baker of Hoschton, GA; mother-in-law, Stella Joy Martin of Hartford City, IN; brother-in-law: David Allen Martin, his wife Stacey, and their children of Hartford City, IN; nieces and nephews: Christopher Wood, Mindy Kidd and her partner Jeff Ensing, Chelsea Oberle and her fiancé Kyle Near, and Caleb Williams, his wife Dana, and their daughter Stella.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Michael Baker and nephew, Jacob Williams.

Funeral services celebrating Bud’s life will be conducted on Sunday, October 20, at 2:00p.m. at New Bethel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Jarvis officiating. The family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Hurricane Helene disaster relief efforts of Samaritan’s Purse and UMCOR directly through the New Bethel United Methodist Church at 2703 Guy Wilson Rd., Elberton, GA 30635.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com. 

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mr. William Randolph “Bud” Dudley.