Dudley Silas McBee, a lifelong resident and community advocate of Greenwood, passed away on Sunday, June 6, 2021, at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. service on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity. Interment will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Dudley was born in Greenwood on May 26, 1951, to Dalton and Melissa Dear McBee. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1969 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1974. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity while he attended Ole Miss. Dudley married his wife, Dawn Franklin of Greenwood, in 1987 at the Church of the Nativity.

Dudley was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, serving in the vestry in the past – as well as taking his role as usher seriously each Sunday morning. In addition to serving at the Church of the Nativity, he served on the board of directors or was involved in other roles at organizations such as Golden Age Nursing Home, Pillow Academy, Greenwood Country Club, the Men's Golf Association, and the University of Mississippi Alumni Club.

In 1989, Dudley began his career at Greenwood Utilities and provided GU with 31 years of loyal service and leadership retiring as the Executive Vice President of Finance in June of 2020. Dudley also served as the Assistant General Manager and General Manager, and his Greenwood Utilities family will miss him dearly.

Some of his proudest moments came from coaching his sons' soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. As a "numbers guy," he was a legendary architect of constructing competitive rosters through the draft and positioning his players optimally in the lineup.  An avid golfer throughout his life, Dudley was playing the best game of his life at the course over the last year since retirement. His Country Club and Cotton Row group of friends will not be the same without Big Cat. Known as an "encyclopedia of the first generation of classic rock," Dud enjoyed listening to music in his free time. Dudley was also an avid supporter (and critic) of Ole Miss Sports, and the Rebel community will miss him as well. However, his wife Dawn will not miss the criticism coming from the back of the house while the Rebs are playing.

Dudley is survived by his wife, Dawn Franklin of Greenwood, and his son, Malcolm McBee (Bailey) of New Orleans. Dudley recently became a loving grandfather in January to a grandson named Thomas Miles McBee. He is also survived by a sister, Melissa Cole McBee (Hunt) of Jackson, and his McBee cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Dalton McBee; his sister, Jane Fisher McBee; and his son, Miles Harbour McBee.

Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Nativity 400 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 38930. Wilson and Knight Funeral is in charge.