Judy Diane May, 81, of Lakeland, TN, went to receive her eternal reward with her Savior on August 18, 2026, after a lengthy health battle. Her body had been fighting against itself for years, slowly wearing down her body and spirit, but never her faithfulness to the Lord or her love for her family.

Judy was born on February 11, 1945, in Wardell, MO, to the late Melvin and Flora Curtis as the baby of their bunch. She grew up picking cotton with her siblings, the least favorite of her lifetime occupational endeavors, and went on to attend Harding University in Searcy, AR.

She married the love of her life, Lloyd May Jr., on December 26, 1964, and settled in Memphis, TN, where they planted their roots and started their family with the birth of their only daughter, Michelle. Judy and Lloyd were faithful members of the Raleigh Church of Christ, which expanded into the Bartlett Woods Church of Christ, and centered their lives around the Lord.

Judy had an uncanny knack for numbers and worked several jobs as a bookkeeper before purchasing Industrial Sales Company and running it until her retirement in 2016. Upon realizing that her “business” was not yet finished after retirement, she continued to work part-time for Wagner General Contractors until her health limited her work. 

Outside of being a savvy businesswoman, she also took on the arduous role of caregiver to her beloved husband, Lloyd, in the months of his decline during his battle with cancer after 35 beautiful years together.

Judy was best known by family and friends as a force of nature, with a quick wit and an extremely persuasive personality. She passionately loved her family, faithfully served her Lord, and was an avid University of Memphis basketball fan. Her generosity was well known by all who knew her well. She lived by the motto, “You can’t out-give God.” She was richly blessed and wanted to bless others. To be loved by Judy was to know you had someone firmly in your corner. 

Judy is survived by her beloved daughter, Michelle Creamer (Chuck); her two loving grandchildren, Jordan Mooney (Spencer) and Seth Creamer; her devoted brother, Joe Curtis; her dear sisters-in-law, Ruth Curtis, Sheila Leslie, Gwen Coker, Debbie Harlow, and Sandra Jones, all of whom she loved as sisters; and many cherished nieces and nephews, several of whom were more like brothers and sisters to her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lloyd P. May, Jr.,  her, precious brothers and sisters: Lavern Alderson, Noel Curtis, Eugene Curtis, Clyde Curtis, and Betty Sue Phillips, as well as her parents, Melvin and Flora Curtis.

She was a strong force in her family, her congregation, and her community who will never and could never be forgotten. She was so much bigger than any concise words of remembrance could ever encompass. Judy was fiercely loved, and her larger-than-life legacy will forever live on in our hearts.