Dr. Elijah Morgan Dudney

Dr. Elijah Morgan Dudney of Gainesboro, age 94, passed away on March 30, 2024. He was a retired physician and a member of the Gainesboro Church of Christ.
Dr. Dudney was born at home in the Free State community of Jackson County on November 12, 1929, the only child of Mark and Sally Dudney. He graduated from Jackson County Central High School as Valedictorian at age sixteen in 1946. He attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute from 1946-1949, then entered medical school at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. He obtained his M.D. in 1952 and entered the civilian internship program in the U.S. Air Force, interning at Nashville General Hospital.
Dr. Dudney attended the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and qualified as a flight surgeon. Assigned to Washington National Airport, his duties included taking care of VIP personnel entering and leaving the United States, including the Presidential flight crews. While on active duty in Washington, Dr. Dudney served as a White House Aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acting as an escort for social and state functions at the White House. After completing active duty, he began a surgical residency at Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, serving as chief surgical resident in his final year. In 1959, Dr. Dudney returned to
Gainesboro and began his private practice of medicine and surgery, continuing his military service as a reservist and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973. He served as Jackson County's Medical Examiner for many years.
Dr. Dudney loved Jackson County and welcoming friends to his home in the Free State community. He was an avid University of Tennessee football fan and enjoyed working outside to relax. Above all, he loved his family. He retired from private practice in 1997. The Tennessee Hospital Association honored him with its Meritorious Service Award in 1994. In 2018, he received the College of Medicine Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Dudney took great pride in being a "country doctor" and exemplified the Hippocratic Oath. One story relates his attitude toward his patients. A man who had an outdoor labor job came to his office during the summer. Concerned that he smelled bad, the patient apologized that he didn't have time to take a shower before the appointment. Dr. Dudney replied, "When I can't take care of a working man, that's when I need to quit."
Dr. Dudney was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Janey Dudney; and his parents, Mark and Sally Dudney. Survivors include daughters Dr. Tina Dudney (husband Mike) and Jane Morgan Dudney Roberts (husband Jeff); and son Mark Dudney (wife Laurajane). Dr. Dudney had four grandchildren: Hannah Claire McCormack, Sarah Jane Dudney, John Morgan Dudney and Rachel Katharine Dudney.
Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. The family will receive visitors from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, April 12, 2024; and will celebrate his life with a memorial service in the chapel at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 13. Mark Dudney will officiate the service. Dr. Dudney chose cremation and the family will hold a private interment later at the Dudney family cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the beautification fund at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce or the Share to Care Foundation, which benefits Jackson County youth and teachers. Donations may be made by contacting the business office Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. 931-268-1550