This was a direct order from above. Judy, known for her lightning fast short-hand skills and in possession of a myriad of tiny, top spiral bound notebooks containing the scribbles of an ancient language, had the premonition this task was imminent. Judy could sit before a typewriter, antique or electric, and set it on fire…never once looking at the keys. Was this her only claim to fame? No. But, these skills astounded anyone who was a witness. Judy also cooked a mean fried chicken and home-made potato salad giving no one the recipe. I know for a fact that some of my former boyfriends would come to our house hopeful that a fried chicken dinner would be served, but…yet…still there was another reason because I watched and I saw’ what happened next. The boys would come to gaze upon my Mother; they came to look into her gorgeous cornflower blue eyes…then, excitedly dive into dinner and…get the chance to ‘look’ at Judy even more. I did not mind. My Mother thought she was feeding my hungry friends.
She was AND she was beautiful. Her eyes were crystal blue and could shoot you down in a half of a glance. Her eyes were her voice; her voice of happiness, great grief, dismay, rejoicing and punishment. You knew where you stood when Judy looked at you. At times I felt like I might die if she looked at me any harder. Is this Judy’s second claim to fame? No. Judy retired (as Judy Lewis) from the Memphis Chamber of Commerce and the work she achieved provided her with the greatest sense of accomplishment and pride. Judy referred to herself as a ‘Chamber Maid’ and said she wanted to represent and promote Memphis for the rest of her life. She did not get that chance and went ‘kicking and screaming’ to Georgia in her last chapter of life.
Judy would have never told anyone, but she received ‘'Outstanding Civilian of the Year 1986' and was awarded a spot on the USS Memphis Submarine while serving on the Military Affairs Council through the Chamber. Mother said the trip on the submarine ‘'Rocked’. Well, those may not have been her exact words. Constance Gordon-Johnson took the escalator 17 years before my Mother. Constance was Judy’s first born and Mother cherished and adored this daughter of hers with a fierceness I have never seen. Constance was talented, intelligent beyond her years and schooling, and a force with which to be reckoned. Judy raised two strong women. I am left here to deal with the aftermath. And my world is stinging right now without Judy. It is with huge grace, love, and appreciation that I recognize we had the best Mom two girls could have ever asked for. I remain equally angry that she did not pass down the gift of jitter-bugging to me for she was, at one time, a champion and proved so at The Memphis Peabody Hotel.
Judy did hand down the 'eye trick’ and I used it diligently while raising my children. Judy departs to take short-hand in the heavens above surrounded by her precious, fast-witted Father, Eddie Cobb, and her gorgeous, tall, tan grand-son, Edward Cory McCulley…whom, no doubt, is elated to be with his Granny again. I already warned Mother that Cory’s first request would be to borrow $40.00; not sure how he is going to spend it, but my bet is he will buy a few, new short-hand books for his Granny. Constance, Paw-Paw, and Cory will be waiting with open arms. Constance will be directing the 4 of them now; she was good at that. I, Patricia Gordon-Stevens, Judy’s second born daughter, Kelley Rogers, grand-daughter, and great grand-daughter Summer Daye Rogers are thrilled we had my Mom sprinkling our lives with love, laughter, quick wit, and, of course, perfect grammar as long as she did…but, still…never…long enough.
Private service to be held with family only.
If you would like to make a donation in Judy Cobb’s memory, Judy admired and respected deeply the research and work provided by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Thank you.
Online condolences may be offered at www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com.
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Athens, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
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