Judy Burch Huddleston, age 79, of Germantown, TN died August 9, 2023.

Judy's lifelong pattern of being early began on January 29, 1944. It was a rare, snowy day in Hartselle, Alabama. John David and Mary Savannah Burch were not expecting their 13th child to arrive quite so suddenly. But Judy already had other ideas in mind. After being born at
home, her sister Janice had to walk to the nearest neighbor's house to borrow their telephone to call the doctor. Judy defied the odds and survived. Because one older sister died as an infant, Judy came to be known as the 12th to round out the dozen Burch kids who survived to
adulthood.

Growing up in a family of that size on a cotton farm was not easy, but the family was a close and loving one. Judy discovered early on that farm life was not her cup of tea. Outdoors was okay if she was riding her horse, Jet, but if it was harvesting time, she wanted no part of it. To
get out of it, she would throw cotton bolls at her older siblings. When they retaliated, she would tattle on them, and her mom responded by allowing her to stay in the house with her to cook and do housework instead. It was then that Judy found her true calling as a housewife
and mother.

In 1950 the movie Cheaper by the Dozen was released. When it premiered locally at the only movie theater in Hartselle, the Burch Dozen were the guests of honor and treated to dinner and movie tickets. Judy was 6 and enjoyed being a celebrity for a day.

After graduating from Danville High School, Judy moved to Memphis, TN where 2 of her siblings lived. After cosmetology school, she rented a room from a never married lady named Grace. Grace quickly became like a second mother to her. In her 50's Grace married a never married man named Raymond and they were like a third set of grandparents to Judy's kids.

The trajectory of Judy's adult life was set when a coworker arranged a blind date with Billy. Billy was immediately smitten when he arrived at Grace's house to see Judy dressed to the nines in a yellow dress and expensive heels. They married on Christmas Eve 1964. Judy said they chose that date partly because she loved Christmas but also because they both had 3 days off work, so it allowed them a quick honeymoon to Gatlinburg.

Together they raised 2 daughters, Kimberly and Sharon. Although Judy worked part time at Gould's Salons, her primary occupation was wife and mother, a role she cherished.

Judy's passions were decorating the home that she and Billy built, tending her flower garden and home, shopping, and being actively involved in church. Although she claimed to not like to cook, everyone agreed that she made some of the best banana pudding, coconut cream and chocolate pies they had ever eaten.

Even though she was very independent and enjoyed her alone time, Judy cherished close friendships with Julia, Pat, Shirley, Iris, and Geri.

A fierce competitor, she loved to play games. Her favorites were Uno, Rook, Chinese Checkers, and Dominos.

Her life took a drastic turn in the fall of 2019. After a busy day working in her yard and shopping, she suffered a massive stroke sitting on the couch doing a word puzzle. She was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. It was quickly determined that she needed to be airlifted downtown. She had such a fear of flying, that she protested the whole way. Against the odds, she again survived. But the stroke robbed her of her ability to walk and left her struggling to use her voice. Billy retired and assumed the role of her primary caregiver.

Recently, when she was asked her greatest accomplishment in life, Judy said being mom to Kim and Sharon, and Grandmother Judy to Victoria, Jacob, Will, and Jonah. She adored those 4 grandchildren and loved spending time with them and spoiling them.

We will have a celebration of Judy's life on August 16, 2023, at Forest Hill Funeral East 2440 Whitten Rd, Memphis, TN. We will receive friends at 1:00 with a funeral service to follow at 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, Judy would be honored for you to donate to the Women's or Children's Ministry of Ridgeway Baptist Church, 2500 Ridgeway Rd, Memphis, TN 38119.

Also, Judy would wish that you not be sad, but instead rejoice that she is healed and whole and reunited with her parents and siblings with Jesus.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Billy Huddleston: her daughters, Kim (Bert) Lindbergh and Sharon (Phillip) Ginn: and the loves of her life, grandchildren, Victoria and Will Lindbergh and Jacob and Jonah Ginn and many nieces and nephews, all of whom she dearly loved.

Judy always believed the worst day could be made better with some Hershey's chocolate. Please help yourself to some Hershey's candy at the Guest table.