Obituary

THE LIFE OF RUDIE ANN PIKE-NEWTON October 27,1962 – April 14, 2012 Earth’s Loss – Heaven’s Gain In Tulsa, OK on October 27, 1962 a darling baby girl was born to Wilson and Thelmarie Pike. They chose to call her Rudie Ann, the namesake of her Uncle Rudolph and Aunt Annie Sweet. Rudie professed Christ at an early age and was baptized by Rev. L. V. Price at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Tulsa, OK. A product of Tulsa Public Schools, she attended Dunbar, Bunche, Clinton and Hawthorne Elementary, Gilcrease Junior High, then graduated from McLain High School in 1980. There has never been a prouder SCOT. Rudie wrote a Scot fight song, was a cheerleader, an honor student and in adulthood she even painted her home maroon and gray. She continued her education at Northeastern A&M College (NEO) in Miami OK. There she studied Fashion Design and Merchandising. Rudie also was a cheerleader, a member of the Baptist Student Union and the NEO Gospel Choir. After college Rudie wed Hansel Newton and gave birth to the children she loved, cherished and adored, Richard Alexander and Evangeline Bernice Newton who will continue their Mother’s Legacy of love and laughter. Hansel preceded Rudie in Death (1995). A gifted sensitive soul, Rudie loved to sing, joke, travel, shop and sew. At her home- based business, “Sew What?,” she created, designed and made wedding and prom dresses, pastoral and choir robes, athletic wear and other clothing delights. She was always busy doing something; one of her favorite things to do was work in Church. As a member of Galilee Baptist Church, she was Pastor Pike’s Administrative Assistant. In the Northwest Creek District, she attended many Congressional sessions so that she would be better able to serve her Church. At Galilee she also held these positions: Announcement Clerk, Choir director, Youth department director, VBS and Sunday School teacher. Rudie was the NWCD Young Adult Queen for 2 years and was certified by the Lucy Campbell Music Workshop. Over a decade ago, Rudie created the Gospel Group 4 Times Harmony. The members are her son Richard and nephews, Erik Anderson, Lonnie and Charles Williams, Glen Richardson and Matthew Pete. She also sang with her husband’s group Signs and Wonders. Rudie joined Greater Sunrise Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. R. A. Phillips. There she served as Music Director and Youth Coordinator. Rudie and the children enjoyed baking the Annual Resurrection Sunday cookies to share with the church family. The last church she attended was Gethsemane Baptist Church where her dear friend Rev. W. T. Lauderdale is Pastor. Rudie fit right into the Canaan District and served as the District Youth Director and Instructor during sessions. She also served as a choir member and youth instructor at Gethsemane. Rudie was employed by Tulsa Community College when her health failed in 2009. Prior to that she served as a substitute teacher for Tulsa Public Schools. Rudie loved children and always had a swarm of them around that called her Aunt Rudie. A good cook, she filled her house with the smell of her favorite dishes. Egg rolls, chili, tacos, hot wings, wontons and black eyed peas were just some of the foods people requested her to prepare for them. Rudie loved and was loved by many. The funeral director told us that so many people had called about Rudie’s services that she wanted to take her phone off the hook! There will never be enough words to express how much we all loved and will miss our Mama, Ludie Sail, Tornado, MeMaw, Tuesday, Sissy, Baby Girl Aunt Ru-Ru, Lu-Lu, Plum, Ricochet Rabbit, Aunt Mama, Sister Newton and Little Rudie. We thank God for sharing her with us. Her father, Rev. W. M. Pike and sister Brenda Pike-Williams preceded her to heaven. She leaves to cherish everlasting memories her mother, Thelmarie Pike Tulsa, OK, her precious grandson DeMonte’ Mayfield, two brothers, Wilson (LaSonya) Wichita, KS (3 nieces 1 great niece), Samuel (Tonya) Tulsa, OK (3 nephews & 1 great niece), Three sisters Ethel Cannon of Ft. Worth, TX (4 nephews, 1 niece, 8 great nephews, 10 great nieces, 1 great-great niece & 1 great-great nephew), BJ (Ricardo) Murfreesboro, TN (2 nephews, 2 great nephews & 1 great niece), Eugenia Pete (Larry) Tulsa, OK (1 niece, 2 nephews & 2 great nieces). The Vann Hall Girls, Rebecca “Beki” James, Karen “KT”Ferguson and Melyssa “K-Lyssa” Bailey. These young ladies are Rudie’s college friends that are Sisters from other Mothers, Her Aunts and Uncles; Rudolph and Annie Sweet, Cornelia Wooten, Arthur Craig and Ora Ward, Four “adopted” Sisters; Algerita Gildon, Shari Brown, Mildred Brewer and Barbara Thompson. The list goes on and on to include her many other nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and loved ones all over the nation. Her funeral service will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Gethsemane Baptist Church located at 727 E. 56th Street North in Tulsa, OK. Condolences may be sent through the guestbook on this page.