Clarence Raymond Dudley Jr.

Clarence Raymond Dudley, Jr., CPA and Lawyer, May 13, 1921-February 4, 2019. Son of Clarence Raymond and Mayme Agnes (Rencher). He served with the U. S. Army (Ranger, 2nd BN.303 INF 97 INF Division) Europe and Japan 1942-1946 and was Honorably Discharged on February 22, 1946. He married Sarah Frances (Stewart) on March 23, 1946. He graduated from Birmingham Southern College in 1949 and received an LLB from Jones Law School in 1956 and was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1957. He was an Agent of the U. S. Treasury Department, Birmingham, Alabama from 1949-1952. In 1952 he organized the Firm of Dudley, Hopton-Jones, Sims & Freeman PLLP and served as its Senior Partner until 2019. He thoroughly enjoyed his profession coming into his office five days a week (six during tax season) and actively served his clients from his office until December 2018. He served as Chairman of Board of Pollution Control-Walther Inc.; President North Alabama Industries; Developer, of Jackson Mall, Holiday Inn Petersburg, Clearwater Beach and Slidell, LA; Director and Organizer of City National Bank, Birmingham; Director Southland Bancorp, and C. E. Walter, Inc. He was instrumental in the formation and operation of the Smith Scholarship Foundation Inc. and served as a founding Board member and officer. He was and a member of Masons, Shriners and Vestavia Hills Methodist Church.

He is survived by sons Stewart (Ahrian) and Richard Ernest, grandchildren Kyle (Kristen), Linden Mathis (Cody), Steven, Davis and Ashton and great grandchildren Everett Mathis and Nora and his best friend Mollie and loyal assistant Edward.

He was an avid horseman competing in dressage at the Grand Prix into his eighties and he never met a dog he didn’t like and vice versa. An enthusiast of fine cars who learned to drive a 12-cylinder Packard at age nine sitting on an assortment of catalogs and continued driving until December at age 97. An active traveler he began his adventures by hitch hiking to South Beach at the age of 12 and New Orleans at 13. He was an enthusiast Boy Scout, president of Phillips High School Glee and science Clubs and played the clarinet with the Birmingham Symphony.

Visitation will be held at Ridouts Valley Chapel at 5:00 P.M. Friday, February 8, 2019. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray’s memory to any animal shelter, Special Equestrians or Birmingham Southern College.