Joella Marie (Rogers) Fudge of Newark, Arkansas, departed this life on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021.
She was born May 2, 1941, in Newark, the daughter of Laman C. and Eloise (Crutchfield) Rogers.
Fudge was a graduate of Newark High School, where she participated in several beauty pageant competitions. On Aug. 29, 1959, Miss Joella Rogers married Mr. Bobby Fudge, and together they spent 60 years.
Fudge worked as a sales representative for Avon for over 50 years and was an Arkansas Folk music legend. She was a seasonal performer at the Ozark Folk Center and had also performed at the Arkansas Traveler Theatre. She played an array of instruments and shared her talent with children as part of the Ozark Music Roots after school program, where she taught autoharp in Mt. View and Newark schools. Along with her sons, she played in the Hard Times Folk Band.
Fudge was an artist, who enjoyed traveling, gardening (especially roses), and raising her dogs and cats. She loved live concerts, seeing several bands over the years.
Fudge was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Fudge; and her parents.
She is survived by two sons, Adam Fudge and wife, Rebecca of Sulphur Rock, and Shane Fudge and wife, Christy of Searcy; one sister, Judy Babb, and husband, Johnny, of Batesville; two grandchildren, Halley Evan Fudge of Newark and Matthew Shane Fudge, II of Searcy; many nieces and nephews; and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at Newark Church of Christ Friday, 12:30 p.m. until service time.
Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Danny Blevins officiating. Interment will be in Macedonia Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Shane Fudge, Adam Fudge, Travis Williams, Matthew Fudge, Preston Diaz, and Michael Williams.
Honorary pallbearers are Bernard Sexton, Roger Fountain, Ronnie Fountain, David Branscum, and Slayton Thompson.
