Judith L. Israel (Judy), 77, passed away December 27, 2024, after a long illness.

Judy was born September 4,1947 in Moultrie, Georgia. She spent her childhood in Norman Park, Georgia and graduated valedictorian from Norman Park High School in 1965. Judy is also a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Georgia and the University of Georgia in Athens where she received a degree in Elementary Education. Judy met her husband Danny at ABAC and they married on December 22, 1967 while students at UGA. Judy and Danny also lived in Corvalis, Oregon and Blacksburg, Virginia before settling in Raleigh in 1975.

Judy worked for the North Carolina Department of Education as a teacher certification specialist and then a supervisor in teacher certification before retiring. Judy loved the Lord and spent 30+ years of active membership and service at Athens Drive Baptist Church in Raleigh. Judy sang in the choir, played handbells, worked with children in Sunday School, traveled multiple times to Honduras for missions work and worked on and led many committees. As an empty nester Judy along with husband enjoyed serving with the church senior adult ministry (Golden Agers). In retirement, outside of her dedicated church service, Judy kept busy as a volunteer at Rex Hospital. Judy was blessed to have her grandchildren nearby and loved being their Grandmommy. She attended dance recitals, voice and choral concerts, school plays and ball games as often as possible.

Judy is survived by Danny, her husband of 57 years, three children, Shannon Bryant (Greg), Nathan Israel (Joanie), Erin Elmore (Sean) and four grandchildren, Sarah and Leah Bryant and Cooper and Tanner Elmore. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Berlene Striplin, her older brother Wynton Striplin and her older sister Glenda Schanbacher.