Remembering the long life of Rudine Sallee

Ollie Rudine Sallee, known lovingly as “Rudine,” was just six days shy of celebrating her 100th birthday when she passed away on Nov. 18. Though she didn’t reach the milestone she had long looked forward to, her family says her nearly century-long life was full, blessed and deeply meaningful.

Rudine was born Nov. 24, 1925, in Mt. Dora, Florida. When she was just a few months old, she and her brother, James, were placed in the Valdosta, Georgia, orphanage. One day, a preacher from the Brushy Creek, Georgia, church urged his congregation to consider adopting children from the home. Among those listening were George and Polly Noles, aging sharecroppers who had never been able to have children.

Polly dearly wanted to adopt both Rudine and her brother, but her husband knew they couldn’t care for two. Polly welcomed Rudine into the Noles’ home, and James was adopted by a nearby Burnett family. The siblings remained close by as they grew up.

Rudine spent her childhood in Sparks, Georgia, attending the Brushy Creek school. Getting to class wasn’t always easy. She walked a long path through the woods and across a cow pasture occupied by a notoriously mean bull. On her very first day of school, she did it all while wearing a cast on her shoulder after falling through the door of her father’s Model A Ford.

Through the years, Rudine grew into a devoted mother. She raised eight children: George Robert (Boots) Jewell, deceased; Joyce Ann Luna of Bluffton, Arkansas; Linda Fay Moore, deceased; Betty Darlene Hicks, deceased; Darrell Arthur Hicks of Phenix City, Alabama; Barbara Elaine Jones of Price Place, Arkansas; Kevin Wayne Hicks, deceased; and Debra Gail Sobey of Beavercreek, Ohio.

Her family continued to grow, and she was blessed with 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild.

A couple of years ago, Rudine moved from Florida to Price Place, Arkansas, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Mark Jones. Even in her later years, she remained spirited and full of life. She loved attending Frontier Baptist Church in Pontiac and enjoyed thrift-store browsing and yard-sale adventures—though she was always quick to say she preferred smooth walking and didn’t care for pushing her walker over rocks.

When asked about the secret to her long life, she never hesitated: “Confess your sins, get saved and live for Jesus.” She gave all praise to Christ Jesus for her many years and good health.

In honor of what would have been her 100th birthday, friends, neighbors and well-wishers who wish to extend their love and remembrance are invited to send cards to her family at: The family of Ollie Rudine Sallee, 9 MC 157, Price Place, AR 72661.