Ludley life celebration services set for Saturday

Funeral services for Sadie Pearl Allen Ludley will be held Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Grambling, Louisiana. She departed this life on Saturday, April 23.

There will be a family hour on Friday, April 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church located at 2581 Martin Luther King Dr.

Once in a lifetime will you meet a person that truly embodies fostering the best in others and that would sum up the life of Sadie A. Ludley.  She was born October 27, 1933 to the late Edward Allen and Florida Smith Allen Grayson in Linden, Alabama. 

Courtesy photo
Mrs. Sadie Ludley stands with husband Richard (left) and youngest son Patrick.

The eldest of 15, Sadie learned the importance of family and strong Christian values at an early age. She grew up knowing how to work and appreciate what little they had.  

Working as a sharecropper or picking cotton were the occupations many African Americans in the south were forced into to provide for their families.  However, Sadie wanted more for herself than picking cotton, so she moved to Grambling, Louisiana to live with her aunt, Addie Staff.   

Once at Grambling, she met the love of her life Richard Ludley. They were married January 3, 1956. This union lasted 47 years.  During their marriage, they formed a partnership that was strong and full of purpose and they worked hard to improve their community.  

Sadie graduated from Grambling State University in 1958, then known as Grambling College with a degree in business education. She also received a master’s in education from ULM, formally Northeast Louisiana University (NLU).  She continued her education at Louisiana Tech University and obtained a +30.   

Her first job was in the GSU Music Department under Mr. Curtis T. Mayo for five years, but her love was to teach.  Anyone that knew Sadie knew she believed in the power of an education. She was a public school teacher in Union and Lincoln Parishes for 25 years.  Never staying still for too long, she retired from Lincoln Parish Schools in 1992 and opened a Church-based tutorial program for over 15 years at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Grambling.

Her love for her community was shown through works in the NAACP, National Association of University Women, the Ouachita Valley Council Thunderbird District of the Boy Scouts of America Pack 140 (+30 years), the Jerry Lewis Telethon, St. Jude’s Bike-A-Thon, the Upward Bound Program at GSU, a mentor volunteer for Grambling State University’s Student Support Services, the Grambling State University National Alumni Association (Life time member).

Mrs. Ludley was a member of the Royal Art Chapter #47 of the Order of Eastern Star, Jomadi Court #23, Daughter of Isis, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated where she was a faithful member for over 55 years.

If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Mrs. Ludley  served as first lady of the City of Grambling for almost 10 years after her husband was elected mayor in 1984.  While serving in that capacity, she worked with the Juneteenth Celebration, the Christmas Joy fund, and wherever she was needed.

Her service at Mt. Zion Baptist Church was a reflection of her love and her Christian faith. She made sure her children were active attendees and knew the Lord.  

She served in various positions such as president of the Deaconess Ministry, Sunday School Teacher, Baptist Training Union (BTU) director, Vacation Bible School director, and Mission Ministry. She also cooked Sunday dinner for many church members that were sick and shut in until her health began to fail.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Allen Sr. and Florida Smith Grayson; her husband, the Hon. Richard Ludley; five siblings, Leroy Allen, Hanoree Allen, Maggie Dell Reed, Dave Allen and, Leo Allen.

She leaves to mourn her death and celebrate her life four children, Greg Ludley, Karen Ludley Fields (Donald) both of Grambling, Louisiana, Valerie Ludley Nelson (Barrett) of Mesquite, Texas and Patrick Ludley of Frisco, Texas; one godson Leroy Durant; one goddaughter Sonia Freeman of Monroe, Louisiana; three grandchildren, Kyla Benet Nelson, Khari Vanita Nelson and Alan Patrick Ludley; and one great grandchild, Kamryn Pearl Nelson; two adopted grandchildren Josh Durrant, Corey Durrant; five sisters, Barbara Allen, Louise Allen, Lena Brown, Loree William, Dessie Jackson; four brothers Edward Allen Jr., Willie James Allen, David Allen, George Allen; two brothers in laws Flynn Ludley (Jane) of Grambling, Louisiana and Glynn Ludley (Berdenia) of Monroe, Louisiana and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.