Vaudra M. Rushing

Vaudra M. Rushing, 92, of Springfield, died on November 12, 2016 in Springfield. She was born in Carbondale, February 18, 1924, to Lee W. and Mae C. Rushing, of Carbondale. She was preceded in death by both parents, as well as a younger brother, Bobby, in his childhood. She is survived by a sister, Beulah Guard, of Springfield.

The Memorial Service will be held at 10 am, November 19, 2016 at Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 S. Grand Avenue West, Springfield. Visitation will be held at 9 am in the Laurel Fellowship Hall, prior to the Memorial Service. Cremation will be accorded by Staab Funeral Home, 1109 S. Fifth St, Springfield. Private family burial will be at Zion Cemetery, Carbondale following the Service.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Africa University Endowment Fund, Nashville, TN; Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. or to a charity of one’s own choice.

Ms. Rushing received a Bachelor’s Degree from SIU, Carbondale; a year of Special Education from Scarritt-Bennett College, Nashville, TN; and a Master of Religious Education Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.

She was elected Delegate to the 1980 Jurisdictional Conference and the 1984 and 1988 General Conferences of the United Methodist Church. Ms. Rushing was elected Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National Christian Educators Fellowship, Nashville, TN and taught in a number of Conference Schools of Christian Mission in four different Jurisdictions of the United Methodist Church.

She retired in 1994 from the First United Methodist Church in Champaign, as Coordinator of Older Adult and Volunteer Ministries.