Eunice Rudder Adkins

Eunice Virginia Pruette Rudder Adkins, 92, passed away peacefully on New Year’s Day 2021, due to complications from COVID-19. In declining health these past few months in Atlanta, GA, she died quietly and gently, holding her Neecie’s hand.

Eunice was born in Dawes (Mobile), AL, in 1928, grew up in Pritchard, and graduated from Murphy High School. She wed Arthur Timothy (T) Rudder in 1948, and they were miraculously married 54 years, living in Corpus Christi, TX, Pensacola, FL, Potomac Falls, VA, and Mobile, AL, until T’s death in 2002. Eunice served as Pensacola Office Manager of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 25+ years and was a smart, strong, and independent woman, long before it was appreciated.

Eunice was blessed to find love again and married retired pilot Captain James (Jim) O. Adkins in 2007. They were happy, active members of the Somerby retirement community in Mobile until Jim died in 2009, and Eunice remained at Somerby until 2020.

Eunice was fun, spontaneous, and funny. She loved roller skating, water skiing, reading, dressing up, tea parties, dancing, unplanned trips, shopping, peppermint balls, and a good cup of coffee. She was an accomplished hostess who frequently hosted dinners, parties, cookouts, or any excuse to get together. She was a fabulous cook, and many still cook their favorite “Eunice” recipes. Eunice constantly welcomed friends, new and old, into her home and was renowned for her generous spirit. She developed lifelong relationships with people of all ages and walks of life, and she loved and was loved deeply. Her faith in God was constant, and she most recently was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Mobile, AL.

Eunice loved her family most of all. As the matriarch, she provided love, support, and strength to her entire family. She was the mother, grandmother, and GG you’d wish for everyone. She will be forever missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Janice (Neecie) and Mickey Nall (Gainesville, FL), grandson, Ryan Nall, and great granddaughter, Harper Nall (both of Atlanta, GA). She is also survived by her devoted sisters, Esther Nicholson Scott (Lamar) and Mary Kendrick (Judson), both of Mobile, AL, and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. And she will be missed by Jim’s children, Chap and Diane Adkins (Jensen Beach, FL) and Starr and Randy Clay (Tallahassee, FL).

She was predeceased by her husbands; her parents, James Thomas Pruette and Pearl Hearn Pruette Freeny; sister, Florence Dunn; and brother, Curtis Pruette.

Eunice will be buried with T in Brightwater Cemetery in Brightwater, AL, and a memorial service will be held in Mobile, AL in the future when we can safely gather again. Those wishing to make a charitable contribution in her name may do so by donating to Feeding America http://FeedingAmerica.org.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA, 30319, http://DignityMemorial.com.