Orice Rudolph Custis, Sr., affectionately known as "Rudy," was born on March 5, 1943, and peacefully departed this life on February 4, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

Rudy was educated in the Northampton County School System and graduated from Northampton County High School in 1961. Together, he and Florence Paige Custis (Fisher), who he was married to for 43 years, until she passed away in 2005, raised five children in New York City.

For many years, Rudy was employed as a butcher with Washington Beef, Inc., in Jersey City, NJ. After 20 years, the family returned to Northampton County, where Rudy held various jobs until he retired in 2005, from Bayshore Concrete in Cape Charles, VA.

In 2008, Rudy married Shirley J. James, of Virginia Beach, VA, and they were married for 8 years. Rudy and Shirley attended Saint Stephens Church of God in Christ, in Virginia Beach, VA, under the leadership of Bishop Ted Thomas, Sr. He was a faithful member of New Jerusalem Holy Church in Cheapside, VA, where he became an ordained Deacon, under the leadership of the late Elder Anthony Ruffin, and later, Elder Lummie Smith.

Rudy loved the Lord and took every opportunity to minister to his children and others about the goodness of God and the importance of salvation. Rudy also loved children and they gravitated to him because of his loving nature and his patience. He could always put a smile on someone's face with his wit and he never allowed anything to get him down. His outlook was always positive, no matter the circumstance, because he knew God was in control.

Rudy was preceded in death by his mother, Eunice Custis and his brother, Willard F. Custis, Sr. He leaves cherished memories with his wife, Shirley, his children, Kelli of Baltimore, MD, Rudy Jr. (Nita) of Baltimore, MD, Kim of Chesapeake, VA, Michael of Baltimore, MD and Ingrid (Larry) of Baltimore, MD; his granddaughters, Kendra and Diamond of Baltimore, MD and his great-grandson, Rashaud of Baltimore, MD. In addition, he is also survived by his children by marriage: Chris, of Virginia Beach, VA, Jerome (Tamesha) of Austin, TX, Anjanette (Walter) of Virginia Beach, VA and Sabrina of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Keyanna, Gregory, Kevin, Tierra, Joshua, Josh, Malachi, and Crystal. Rudy also leaves close family friends, John Morris and Sam James and a host of family and friends.

Rest in peace Rudy, Your Loving Family