Obituary of Trudy Y. Sadler

Birth:

Pastor Trudy Yvonne Sadler was born in Camden, New Jersey, to the late James and Vivian Hawkins on March 9, 1950. 

Education

Pastor Trudy’s school years were marked by her active participation in various activities. She was a student of the Camden City School District, attending Charles Sumner Elementary School, J.W. Mickle School, and Cooper B. Hatch School. In 1968, she proudly graduated from Camden High School, fondly known as “The Castle on the Hill.” Her educational journey was not just about academics, but also about fostering a sense of community. She was a member of the Glee Club (school choir) and the Camden High School Choir, where she found joy and camaraderie. Pastor Trudy was a strong proponent and starch advocate for education. In 1972, after graduating high school, she decided to pursue postsecondary education and attended Camden County College in Blackwood, New Jersey, declaring a major in Human Services. She graduated with an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in 1976. Eager to ascertain a Bachelor’s
degree, in 1976, Pastor Trudy applied and was accepted to Glassboro State College, majoring in Sociology. Given her deep spiritual roots and divine calling, she attended Jameson School of Theology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated in 2001 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology and a Certificate in Ministry.

Employment
Pastor Trudy’s work ethic was instilled in her from a young age, as she was the eldest of nine children. Her first job as a teenager was as a salad girl at the PUB in Pennsauken, New Jersey. She was determined to maintain employment and held various sales associate positions with esteemed employers such as Lester’s Clothing in Camden, New Jersey; JCPenny’s Department Store in Audubon, New Jersey; John Wanamaker’s in Moorestown, New Jersey; Arties Clothing Store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Strawbridge and Clothier Department Store in Voorhees, New Jersey; Macy’s Department Store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and TJMaxx in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Her impeccable fashion sense was a testament to her signature style and confidence. Maintaining the crucial role education had always played in her life, Pastor Trudy was also a 3rd grade teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Camden, New Jersey and a substitute teacher throughout Camden County. Instilling the essentiality of education to the larger community, she became a General Education Diploma (GED) coordinator and employed in the Adult Learning Center in the Camden City School District. Pastor Trudy held numerous positions throughout K-12 within the Camden City School District. In 2015, she retired as an administrative assistant in the Guidance Department at East Camden Middle School after serving students, teachers, and administrators for 28 years, and the Camden City School District for 30 years.

Spirituality
Recognizing for Pastor Trudy, ministry was beyond the walls of the Christian Church; however, her spirituality was the framework of her identity. At the age of 9 years old, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and became a member of Mt. Carmel Holy Church in Camden, New Jersey. Then at the age of 14 she began attending The Met Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later became a member of Antioch Baptist Church located in Camden, New Jersey for 25 years under the leadership of Pastor John O. Parker. Here Pastor Trudy was part of the Gospel Chorus, the Combined Choir, and the Praise and Worship Team. During her tenure at this church, she was notably known for singing “Order My Steps in Your Word” by GMW Women of Worship. Prompted by Holy Spirit to begin a new spiritual path, Pastor Trudy became a member and an ordained minister at Voice of Hope Deliverance Church in Camden, New Jersey under the leadership of Apostle Bruce C. Lester Sr. Desiring to persist in her spiritual walk with Christ, Pastor Trudy later became a member of Fresh Word Ministries in 1999 under the covering and
tutelage of, now- Bishop Wynell Freeman. It was at this ministry that Pastor Trudy was consecrated as an Elder and affirmed as a Pastor of Evangelism in the Church of Jesus Christ. Pastor’s favorite biblical passage was Psalm 34: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” My soul makes its boast in the Lord; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us lift up His name together.”
Throughout Pastor Trudy’s life, she was a devoted singer and sang with a myriad of recording artists and Christian Community Choirs including: Arneld (a.k.a ‘Chuckie”) Dupree Ensemble,Camden Inspirational Mass Choir, Edwin Hawkins Music and Art Seminar Choir, and Tri-State Music and Art Seminar Choir and background singer for gospel musician and organist Keith Pringle.

Family
Despite Pastor Trudy’s fondness for music, she frequently delighted herself when vacationing and enjoyed the summer breeze, often on a Caribbean Island with family. Though her recent physical limitations did not allow her to travel to her dream destination, Paris, she always relished family vacations in August and family gatherings during birthdays and holidays. Pastor Trudy’s love for her family, especially her children and grandchildren were profound. She affectionately called her son Lamont “Meech,” daughter Onya as “Bonnie-Boo,” daughter Kha’ as “Colly,” and her grandchildren Qamar “Maurie-Poo,” Ahmad “Moddie,” and Aniyah “Notty.” As a divorcee and single parent, Pastor Trudy’s countless sacrifices and supportive stance toward her children from their formative years throughout adulthood were impeccable. Her rich spiritual legacy and mantle of prayer will forever be ingrained into their spiritual DNA, a
testament to her enduring influence. Pastor Trudy was a mother to many, not just in name but in her nurturing nature. Her frequent prayers, counsel, wisdom, text messages, phone calls, cards, hospital and home visits were not just shared with extended family members, congregants, her children’s friends, and former colleagues, but were given with a caring and supportive presence that many found comfort in. Her seriousness and often remarkably candid responses exuded her strength which could sometimes become misinterpreted if you did not know her. At the conclusion of Sunday church service and even throughout the course of the week, Pastor Trudy was a rock, a shoulder to cry on, and frequently nurtured people back to health. Pastor Trudy Sadler leaves to cherish her memory and legacy of love, servanthood, and devoutness to Christian and moral uprightness: son Lamont D. Sadler; a special son-in-law
Darren J. Croxton, daughter Onya C. Sadler-Croxton; daughter Kha’ Sadler; four sisters Elder Pauletta Jackson, affectionately known as “Paulie”, Myra Hawkins, affectionately known as “Mike”, Arlene Sewell affectionately known as “Genie”, Felicia Hawkins affectionately known as “Fee”; three brothers James Hawkins, Brad Hawkins, and Craig Hawkins; three grandchildren Qamar Sadler, Ahmad Sadler, and Aniyah Croxton; a bonus grandchild Darren Croxton, Jr.; two great-grandchildren Titan Sadler and Aubrey Sadler; two grand-dogs Kingsley and Kane; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, spiritual sons and daughters, and the congregants of Fresh
Word Kingdom Assemblies.