Petsy Holt Rudacille (1942 – 2024)

Petsy Holt Rudacille fell asleep in death on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024, at Folly Beach, SC, with the view of the ocean, sounds of the waves crashing on the beach, her daughters holding her hands, and a grandson and “adopted” son present. After many months of keeping doctors scratching their heads to the point of thinking she may be a “zebra” because she defied their expectations of an 81-year-old woman with pancreatic cancer, she gave up the ghost on her terms.

Petsy Holt Rudacille

She set a goal of living until our family vacation, which she requested everyone to attend so we could get to know each other better. She had what she called a ‘captive audience.’ Everyone showed up, and she had her whole biological family with her the day before she died to read scripture and pray.

She came by her faith honestly as her father, Belus Holt, was a minister of the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith. He and her mother, Iva Mae Holt, spent a life serving the Lord and instilled those values in their three children: Elroy, Petsy, and Jewel. They and her husband, Stuart Rudacille, have all predeceased her.

Stuart and Petsy met when her father was called to be the minister at Cool Springs Church of God. Stuart went to the introductory service, picked her from the back of the head, and said, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry. I hope she’s pretty.” She tripped on the steps when she got up to play the piano for the service and nervously smiled what Stuart called “her thousand-watt smile,” he was hooked. They were married on April 12, 1963, and celebrated 44 anniversaries together.

She leaves behind two heartbroken daughters, of whom she was proud, Susan (John) Bell of Front Royal, VA, and Lillian Rudacille of Charleston, SC; two grandsons, whom she loved dearly, James (Theresa) Bell and John Richard (Stephanie) Bell and two beautiful great-granddaughters, Emilia and Rosalie, for whom she always shared that thousand-watt smile, even from her deathbed.

Petsy was born in Morristown, TN on December 1st 1942. She attended Morristown High School and graduated in 1960. She played the saxophone in the marching band that was invited and played for Eisenhower’s Inauguration. She spent a semester at Orgon Bible College and a semester at Carson-Newman College and transferred to Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, where she was awarded a scholarship to attend. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Education with a specialty in piano performance. She was one credit short of her master’s degree from UVA. She taught music, then 4th grade for Warren County Public Schools for 33 years, retiring in 1999 to take care of her mother, who battled dementia, and then her husband, Stuart, who suffered a stroke.

The two things you are never supposed to mention in polite company were the only two things she really wanted to talk about: the bible and politics. A bible scholar herself, she spent most of her free time studying the bible and was a published theological author on “Enmity” and other occasional articles for the Restitution Herald. She lived her faith quietly, helping where she could, from playing piano for churches to taking in folks who needed a hand up. She never felt like she reached anyone, but that was her humble, unassuming way. Mom was sorely mistaken about whether the outpouring of love we received was any indication.

As a conservative independent, she also enjoyed following politics and loved talking to people who were also interested. When she was told her time was short, she asked when early voting started this year. Don’t worry, Mom, we won’t let you vote Democrat.

Services will be at Kyker Funeral Homes on Friday, July 19th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel, with Pastor Dale Swartz officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. before the service. She will rest in the Fender’s Community Church Cemetery beside her beloved parents in Sweetwater, TN.

You are welcome to honor Mom with flowers or make memorial donations to Atlanta Bible College Digital Library (Archives) at https://www.givelify.com/donate/church-of-god-general-conference-mcdonough-ga-2j7wy5MjM0MDg=/donation/amount, which is a project she whole-hearted supported.