Judy Bernard

Through a career that spanned over 50 years, she was known to thousands of students across the Tampa Bay Area as “Miss Judy.” To her family she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. 

She is survived by her husband, Britt; three daughters, Debaney Benton (Duane), Janeen Stokes (Lamar), and Cherlyn Stokes (Robin); two sisters, Joy Lindsay (Al), Sharon Pirkl (Paul); 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Judy was a trailblazer, starting her own business, Judy Bernard Dancers, Inc., in the 1970s, after years of teaching dance with Linkletter-Totten Dance Studio, Mary May’s School of Baton and Dance, and the King High School Lionettes. For the next five decades, Judy would spend her time traveling to dozens of daycare and community centers teaching tap, jazz, and tumbling to students of all ages and abilities. Among her many talents, Judy Bernard even earned her brown belt in Karate. 

Judy was also an active member of Seminole Heights Baptist Church, where she led the children’s church and choir, played piano and sang in the adult choir; later becoming a member of First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace.


As Judy keeps her “toes tappin’ and smiles smilin’” in the presence of the Lord, funeral arrangements will be held Sunday, May 1st at Garden of Memories Funeral Home (4207 E. Lake Ave. Tampa, FL 33610) with a visitation at 9:30am, followed by a service at 10:30am.

Because of Judy’s belief that dancers come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities, we ask in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Miss Judy's name to Focus Academy, a Temple Terrace-based special needs education center: Focus Academy, 304 Druid Hills Road, Temple Terrace, FL 33617.

Pall Bearers: Britaney Dziedzic, Cristalyn Bates, Clarissa Stokes, Cessaley Ray, Delaina Benton