Elder David F. Dudley was born on August 10, 1941 in Liberty County, Georgia to the late Edgar and Mary Dudley. He was born the second son of nine boys and was the first to attend college and graduate with degrees from three universities.  Elder Dudley was reared in a home that loved and honored God, and he received Christ as his personal Savior at the young age of 14.

Elder Dudley proudly served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army during the Vietnam Era from 1963 - 1965. He later moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was employed as the first black hospital administrator at Holy Cross Hospital.  He was responsible for an annual operating budget of $4.5 million with a gross revenue of $6.5 million.  While working at the hospital in 1966, he met the love of his life, Rosa Dent who joined him in holy matrimony on June 11, 1967.  They were blessed with 55 years of loving bliss and happiness.  Their union produced their beautiful children, David F. Dudley II and Tifanie Dudley Heningburg.

Elder Dudley was employed at Holy Cross Hospital for 19 years as a respiratory practitioner and hospital administrator. He later retired and returned to his roots in Liberty County, Georgia in 1990. He took his talents to St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, Georgia for 18 years and retired in 2008.

After moving back to Liberty County, Georgia, he and his family attended the Aisle of Hope Church where he served as Assistant Pastor.  Elder Dudley also served The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord, Inc. as the National Executive Board Secretary, the Assistant General Treasurer/Controller, the Assistant General Secretary & Nonprofit Consultant, and on the National Board of Presbytery. He later became the Pastor of the Aisle of Hope Church in 2023.

Elder Dudley was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rosa Dent Dudley, his parents, Edgar and Mary Dudley and by four brothers, Edgar Dudley, Jr., Slater Dudley, Silvester Dudley and Rochester Dudley.  He leaves to cherish his memory his children, David F. Dudley, II (Melissa) and Tifanie Dudley Heningburg (Marcel, Sr.).  His grandchildren, Latavia Dudley, Marcel Heninburg II and Deja Heningburg Banda (Alex) will remember his stories and lessons encouraging their greatness.  His brothers, Melvin Dudley, Sr. (Kathy), Elton Dudley (Eunice), Jeremiah Dudley (Elois) and Ceaphus Dudley (Rose) will also cherish his memory.  His sisters-in-law, Johnnie Mae Williams, Jackie Dudley  and Vera Roberts, along with his brothers-in-law, James Dent (Adine) and Charles Dent (Linda) join a host of nieces, nephews and friends who will keep his memory alive.