Rudolph Eurel Liggins, Sr.

Rudolph Liggins, Sr.

A Funeral Mass for Mr. Rudolph Eurel Liggins, Sr., of Los Angeles, California, will be held on Saturday, February 24, at 10 AM, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 1599 US Highway 441 North in Dublin, Georgia. Father Stephen Pontzer will serve as the officiant. Interment will follow in the Pearson Cemetery. Repast will follow at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1601 South Poplar Springs Church Road in Dublin.

A Memorial Service and Mass will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 10 AM, at the Church of the Transfiguration, 2515 West Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard in Los Angeles, California 90008. Repast will follow in the church social hall.

Mr. Rudolph Liggins, Sr., affectionately called “Rue” or “Rudy", was born on September 3, 1934, in Laurens County, Georgia. He was the second of four children born to Methel Eudell Pearson Coney Liggins of Laurens County, Georgia, and Jasper Liggins, Sr., of Baldwin County, Georgia. He received Christ through baptism at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia.

Rudy attended Mary Grove Elementary School in Laurens County. The school was named after his maternal grandmother, Mary Pearson, who, along with his maternal grandfather, Law Pearson, donated the land and timber for the school’s construction. He graduated from Washington Street High School in Dublin, Georgia, in 1951. Thereafter, Rudy traveled to Augusta, Georgia, in order to attend the esteemed Paine College. Seeking expanded economic opportunities, Rudy relocated north to Youngstown, Ohio, where he was welcomed by his cousin, Bertha Coney Dickens, and other family members.

In Youngstown, Rudy met his future wife, Barbara Blair. The couple married on May 1, 1954. They were blessed with the birth of their first child, Rudolph Eurel Liggins, Jr. Shortly after, they moved west to Los Angeles, California. Rudy and Barbara welcomed six more children: Mechele, Duane, Gail, Troy, Kourtney, and Blair. They raised their family in their home of nearly 60 years in Lemeirt Park.

Rudy worked diligently to provide and care for his family. He instilled his passion for higher education in his children and labored many hours to pay for their schooling. He retired from the Department of Public Works in Los Angeles County, after thirty-five years of service as a yard supervisor. He also worked as an independent contractor.

He entrusted the care of his family to the Lord. Nightly, he spent much time on bended knee calling the names of his wife and children and making his requests known to God. Later in life, he was Confirmed, and had the acts of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist as a Catholic. In 1960, Rudy, Barbara, and their children became members of Transfiguration Catholic Church in Los Angeles. The family attended mass weekly and was involved in all parish activities from carnivals to fundraisers and scout troops. Rudy served on many committees with Fr. Hanley, Fr. Dolan, Msgr. Howard, and Fr. Walker. He gave of himself in more ways than known.

Rudy embraced the joys and challenges of life. He was an active member of various social groups who never hesitated to host a gathering or plan a night out at a jazz or blues club. He was a meticulous dresser whose closet was full of custom made suits, pressed pants, crisp shirts, polished shoes, and distinctive hats. Rudy never forsook an opportunity to display his fashionable threads!

Rudy also loved traveling. For many years, he would drive across the country with his wife and children to various parts of the South, Midwest, and Northeast to visit family and friends. As an outdoors enthusiast, Rudy often ventured, with his sons in tow, to lakes or woods for fishing and hunting. His adoration of cars was unparalleled! Rudy possessed a deep knowledge of car manufacturers, models, and makes, and was known for maintaining well-kept, shiny Cadillacs in his driveway!

An exceptional storyteller, Rudy captivated those who knew him with stories about his life experiences. His many recollections ranged from meeting President Dwight Eisenhower at the Master’s Tournament during Rudy’s college days in Augusta to developing a friendship with Sam Cooke and his band many years later when Rudy lived in Los Angeles.

Rudy’s love was expansive and without conditions. He loved welcoming family and friends into his home to discuss politics and current events, watch a baseball, football, or basketball game, try some of the delicious Southern recipes he had learned from his mother and older sister Eula, or simply lend a listening ear and an open heart.

He passed peacefully from this life at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 4, 2018. He was surrounded and supported by his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Methel Eudell; his father, Jasper, Sr.; his older sister, Eula Mae Coney Jackson, and brother-in-law, Columbus Jackson; and his grandsons, Damian Duvall Liggins and Jibrin Alfaki Yerima.

Rudy is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Barbara Liggins; his children, Rudolph (Brenda) Liggins, Jr., Mechele (Kemcham) Yerima, Duane (Yvette) Liggins Sr., Gail (Julius) Jones, Troy (Stephanie) Liggins, Sr., Kourtney Liggins, and Blair (Regan) Liggins; his brother, the Honorable Jasper (Luvenia) Liggins, Jr., and sister, Dr. Shirley Liggins Hall; his grandchildren, Rudolph Liggins, III, Demetria (Shannon) Richburg, Dr. Adam Yerima, Duane (Hasani) Liggins, Jr., Janea Wynn (the late Damian) Liggins, Kyle (Latoya) Liggins, Jennifer Jones, Sherisse Liggins, Julius Jones, IV, Allyson (Devon) Cobbs, Kourtney Mechele Jones, Troy Liggins, Jr., Sarah Yerima, Nelson Johnson, Jr., Amanda Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Leila Johnson, Adrianne Magee, Grace Liggins, and Adrian Magee; and his great-grandchildren, Tariq Gates, Yvette Liggins, Malaki Warren, Victoria Gates, Yvonne Liggins, Yva Liggins, Ariah Liggins, Damian Richburg, Duane Liggins, III, and Casen Liggins. Rudy also leaves behind a host of greatly loved nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

He left this world so much better than he inherited it, and he will forever be loved, admired, and missed.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Rudolph Liggins, Sr., Memorial Foundation, c/o Dudley FH, POB 2007, Dublin, GA 31040.

The family is receiving friends on Friday, February 23, 7-8 PM at the Dudley Funeral Home, 617 East Jackson Street, Dublin, Georgia.

Please post condolences at ServicesByDudley.com.

Services by Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin.