Lilly A. Adams-Dudley, 72 of Midlothian Texas went to her eternal home to be with the Lord, on March 2, 2023 after suffering a brief illness. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at the Midlothian Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. with funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. The burial will follow later in the afternoon at the Midlothian cemetery in Midlothian, Texas. She was married to Jerry L. Dudley Sr. And had her son Jerry L. Dudley Jr. who was born in 1983. Her siblings are James Adam's Jr., Billy Adam's, and Julia Wilson.

Lilly was born to James Adams and Jeralena Adams on June 7, 1950 in Beckley West Virginia. At the age of 3 Lilly relocated to Buffalo where she attended elementary school and East High School. After graduating high school she attended Canisius College where she received her undergraduate degree and graduate degree. In the early 1970s Lilly moved to Hampton Virginia where she taught English at a high school for a short time before returning back home to Buffalo where she began her long career in education administration at Canisius College.

After 43 incredible years of distinguished service at her alma mater--Canisius College, and her leadership in the Western New York Community, Ms. Lilly Adams-Dudley retired in 2018 as director and associate dean of the Office of Canisius’ Opportunity Programs for Education (COPE). She currently resides in Conyers, GA. Lilly received 3 degrees from this Jesuit/Catholic institution: a BA in English, a Master’s in educational administration, and a Master’s in education. Thanks to Lilly’s steadfast work, COPE continues to administer the college’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr scholarship program, and the Arthur O.6Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program6(HEOP). As an award-winning grant writer, she ushered in the Academic Talent Search program. These important components help to ensure that underrepresented students, either in college or in high school, receive the care and attention needed to help them achieve in school and in society. In years gone by, Lilly also administered grants for GEAR UP and Liberty Partnership. Lilly chaired or co-chaired numerous college committees, and served on search committees for new faculty, staff and administrators. She played a major role in the school’s nation-wide search to hire the first administrator to lead the diversity office in the Division of Student Affairs.

There are numerous accomplishments achieved and positions held on campus by this tireless human being: program director, assistant director, writing lab instructor, language arts specialist just to name a few. In the broader community, Lilly served as • board member of Aids Family Services, Buffalo, NY• board member of the Girl Scouts of Buffalo and Western New York, and • A founding member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities—Conference on Diversity and Equity (AJCU-CDE), with its impressive 40+ year history of national service to underserved students in higher education. (Note: At one time, the AJCU represented 28 colleges and universities, including Boston College, Fordham University, and Georgetown University.)Lilly received countless awards including • Induction into the Canisius College DiGamma Alpha Honor Society • The college’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award • The campus’s I. Joan Lorch Award for Women Studies, and • Who’s Who Among Black Americans Upon her retirement in 2018, she received tributes from her Western New York colleagues for outstanding HEOP service at Canisius and beyond. To our esteemed leader, spiritual advisor, who has been a positive influence to 1000 students or more, know that your legendary achievements continue to make society well educated. Ms. Lilly Adams-Dudley, we know that because of the God within you, He will always have your back. We thank you for having our backs as well.

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