Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

September 18, 2026

John Fred Rudisill of Charlotte, North Carolina, was born May 9, 1954, and died on September 18, 2026. He did not “expire,” like an overdue library book, or go to rejoin anyone, or to sing with the angels, or to be “with his Lord.”  He simply died.

John was preceded in death by his best friend, lover, and wife of 42 years, Bynum “Bufi” Rudisill, and his mother and father, Joyce Elizabeth M. Rudisill and Jake A. Rudisill. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Rudisill and her husband Nathan Michail of Corvallis, OR; sister Macki R. Donahoe and husband John of Flowery Branch, GA; brother William A. Rudisill and wife Sheila of Piedmont, SC; twin brother Jacob M. Rudisill and wife Ruta of Pleasanton, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was educated in the Charlotte public schools, Duke University, and UNC-CH (we all make mistakes) Law School.  He practiced law privately in Charlotte from 1979 to 2023, focusing on elder law in the latter part of his career.  He was raised a Lutheran, became a Methodist, evolved to be a Taoist-Presbyterian and then a secular humanist atheist.  John volunteered throughout his life, teaching math tricks to his daughter's classes, coaching basketball at First United Methodist Church, and serving as PTA president and democratic party precinct chair. He was a frequent financial supporter of diverse causes such as bird and nature conservation, humanitarian efforts, civil rights organizations, and medical research.

John loved birds, basketball, and cooking. He could identify birds from a moving car by just their silhouette, and he always kept the feeders stocked with food and the birdbaths with water in his backyard. John played basketball until arthritis in his hips stopped him. He was a supporter of the Charlotte Hornets from their founding in 1988 and a lifelong fan of Duke men’s and women’s basketball, passions he shared with and passed onto his wife and daughter. His best recipes were his sourdough bread and cheesecake.

John had unique and wide-ranging musical tastes, from David Bowie to RuPaul to Joan Jett to Kesha. He enjoyed chess his whole life and read widely, mostly nonfiction, but he also loved Sherlock Holmes. A skilled gardener, John applied his green thumb to roses, tomatoes, herbs, and a fig tree in his yard. He was a flamboyant dresser, with blue and pink seersucker suits, Bermuda shorts for summer, an eclectic tie collection, and at least 50 hats of all types. John lived with multiple sclerosis for 50 years and used the occasional physical limitations as an opportunity to accessorize with interesting canes. John and Bufi loved to travel together, especially to Portugal, which they visited ten times; and to visit their daughter abroad in her previous career with the State Department. John was passionate about politics and believed in the promise of the United States; he protested and petitioned his government to uphold that promise throughout his life.

A memorial will be held on at 1 pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, 501 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202. The parking garage is at 163 W 9th Street. Those who cared for John are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Contributions can be made at https://www.nationalmssociety.org/.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.