
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Monday, December 7, 2020 at Lebanon Memorial Cemetery, Archie Road, Plains, Georgia.
Please be mindful that we will adhere to all government recommendations and mandates at all services at this time. We are limiting graveside seating to no more than 10 with masks being strongly encouraged. Other masked attendees are welcomed but will be expected to practice social distancing.
Graveside services are likely to be held on ground that is uneven, which is out of the control of Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc. We ask that you take this into consideration when choosing footwear, such as shoes with high, thin heels. Please be advised that Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc. will not be held responsible for injuries at a grave site because of this.
Dudley Gary, known as “Rabbit,” by family and friends was born February 4, 1949 to Willie Ruth Moffett Gary and James Gary. He was raised by his grandparents Queen & Dan Gary and two aunts Clara Daniels and Queen Gary. He attended the public school system of Sumter County graduating from North East High School in Americus, Georgia. Following school he enlisted in the United States Army. While in the army he obtained a degree in Masonry (Construction work). He joined New St. Paul at an early age. He then joined St. John A.M.E. Church where he served and the board as a steward and on the finance committee. He later met the love of his life Shirley Ann Sheppard. He and Shirley were married on November 17, 1973 and to this union three children were born Tiffany, Shaun, and Shannon. He was employed with Reeves Construction until he established his own construction company Gary’s Construction. He enjoyed sitting round with family and friend. He also enjoyed cooking soul food. He was a member of the American Legion Lodge No. 558.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie Ruth and James Gary; grandparents, Dan and Queen Gary; his wife, Shirley Ann Sheppard Gary; son, Shaun Gary; aunts, Eva Gary and Ruby Lee Woods; uncles, Dudley Gary, Dan Gary Jr. and Henry Gary; devoted cousins, Rickey Daniels and Henry Woods.
Leaving to cherish his memories two daughters, Tiffany Gary (Jessie), Shannon Gary-Harris (Tanickey) all of Columbus, Georgia; granddaughters, Nyesha Gary, DaBresha Gary, Nykeria Brown; grandsons, LaMarcus Murphy Jr., Ty’Quarious Murphy; great grandchildren, Kyndall Waldon, M’Kenley Walker; two aunts, Clara Daniels, Americus, Georgia, Queen Gary, Leslie, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Inez Battle (Johnny), Bertha Bruce (Walt), Plains, Georgia; two brothers-in-law, Larry Sheppard (Connie), Willie Sheppard, Atlanta, Georgia; devoted cousins raised as brothers and sisters, Joseph Daniels Jr. (Gwendolyn), Americus, Georgia, Charles Gary (Ishua), Leslie, Georgia, Michael Daniels, Clara Mercer, Mary Mann, Bernice Ingram, Nancy Berryhill (John), Ossie B. Woods, and Geneva Woods, all of Americus, Georgia; a host of other relatives and devoted friends, including his construction buddies Lynn Majors and Lawrence Gary, Andrew Smith, Emory Blakely, Edward Oscar Lester, Katie Jackson, Freddie Mae Polk-Roberts, Johnny Lee Roberts, George Ellis, Shanetta Cobb- Thomas, and William Perry.