Clodean Rutledge Corder

Clodean Rutledge Corder, age 78, of Arab, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday morning, February 20, 2025. She was born April 19,1946 to Oliver and Ruby Rutledge on their farm in a small rural community just outside of Arab, Alabama. Clodean’s life was filled with love, devotion to family and a strong faith in God. Clodean was a beautiful person inside and out. She grew up in simpler times, helping her mother in the kitchen, working in the garden, and spending evenings playing dominoes around the kitchen table with her family. She graduated from Arab High School in 1963, where she was a head cheerleader for two years and selected as Miss Arab High School her senior year. She had a friendly personality, a compassionate heart, and a cheerful disposition which just made her so easy to love. Clodean led a very full life. As a single mother she raised Lisa while working in accounting for companies including Sears-Huntsville, GTE-Huntsville, and Yokogawa in Newnan, Georgia. While working at GTE, she met Richard Corder and her life was made richer for it. Clodean and Rich were married on February 3, 1990 and they have shared many adventures together, including several vacations, many Alabama football games, and a lot of weekend rides through the mountains. Clodean loved the Lord and enjoyed reading her Bible, listening to worship music, and being involved in church. As a member of Gilliam Springs Baptist Church, she was faithful in attendance, and she enjoyed working with the youth group, chaperoning choir trips, and participating in mission trips to Montana and Brazil. Clodean’s kind spirit and warm smile were a reflection of her love for Christ and evidence of her faith every day. Clodean cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren. Lisa was her shopping buddy and they spent many Saturdays shopping, having lunch and talking together. Clodean was devoted to her seven grandchildren and she loved it when they came to visit. She enjoyed making meals for the family, laughing, talking, having fun, and playing games. She loved hosting her extended family with all of her nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She will be remembered for making homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast, for her chicken and dumplings, and for special desserts like Christmas cookies with green icing, brownies, and white cake with chocolate icing. Clodean treasured these times with her family and she created lasting memories for her family. Clodean also loved the outdoors especially in the fall. She seemed to find peace from life's struggles if she could just experience quiet and nature. She loved to drive up into the mountains, to hike to a waterfall, and just to be thankful for all the beauty around her remembering that God had made it all. These outings into nature were especially wonderful if she could take a couple grandkids with her and share with them the love of God's creation. She is survived by her devoted husband of 35 years, Richard Corder; her daughter, Lisa Embry (Jim); stepchildren, Keith Corder (Courtney) and Stacey Corder Kell (Ricky); and her seven beloved grandchildren Jordin Daughenbaugh(Ryan), Jonathan Embry, Sarah Smith(Benjamin), Kaitlyn Scruggs(Bryce), Jaimen Ezell, Carley Corder Howse(Will), and Reagan Corder, her six great grandchildren, Rylyn Daughenbaugh, Hudson, Shepard, and Judah Smith, Eden Scruggs, and Liam Howse. She is also survived by her brothers, JC Rutledge and Clatus Rutledge. Clodean was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Ruby Rutledge, her sister, Clovis Rutledge Smith and sister in law Jean Rutledge. Visitation will be held at Gilliam Springs Baptist Church in Arab on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 1:00, with the funeral service to follow at 3:00 pm. Frank Whitaker and Jamie Pruett will officiate the service, with Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel directing. Following the service, burial will take place at Mount Oak Cemetery, with a graveside memorial led by Pastor Larry Corder. Pallbearers will be Jim Embry, Keith Corder, Jonathan Embry, Jaimen Ezell, Justin Smith, and Vann Rutledge. Clodean will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her love, faith, and cherished memories will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Clodean Rutledge Corder

April 19, 1946 - February 20, 2025