Judy C. Williford

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Judy Maria Cash Williford of Oxford, North Carolina at the age of seventy two. Judy passed peacefully early in the morning of March 26 in the company of her family. She is the granddaughter of Belle Kearney Hedgepeth, daughter of Carlton and Joyce Cash, stepdaughter of Curtis Johnson and wife of Danny Williford, Sr. She is the mother of three children, Danny Jr, Todd, and Elizabeth.

True, clear, and constant as the North Star, Judy held to her beliefs of beauty, grace, compassion, and family and practiced them daily.

Judy led a life in pursuit of beauty. Judy’s first step after earning her license for Cosmetology was her work at Dolores’s House of style where she worked with the fashions of the late 60’s and early 70’s and the dreams of her clients to help them express their personal visions of beauty. Judy truly loved investing her time and energy into adding elements of beauty and style to her customer’s occasions. This collaborative and supportive approach to realizing beauty with others is her gift and helped create a bond with her friends, customers, and community culminating in her role as founder and owner of Fishing Creek Nursery and Florist, resulting in fifty years of dedication to the pursuit of beauty and style.

Judy expressed her grace through her works, both private and public. From being a member of the Altar society at church to ensuring that she helped anyone who came to her in need, we hear the echoes of her grace in the stories of how her kindness and caring impacted her friends and customers. She was more than their stylist or florist, she was an integral part of their major life events. Externally, Judy has always been seen as polite and kind. Like still waters, her compassion ran deep and imprinted upon her family the value and importance of being civil especially in disagreement. Even as the smoke cleared on the infamous family fireworks fiasco of 1984 she never raised her voice or derided those allegedly responsible. As the fires extinguished she simply remarked, “I think that’s enough fireworks.”

Devotion to family was the bedrock of Judy’s life. Her happy place was her family beach house. The highlight of each year was the beach trip with her siblings who were also her best friends. Growing up, her home was the hub of activity and became the center of holiday celebrations for her own family. Each holiday was a procession from home to home as we celebrated with each other and enjoyed the comfort and joy of being a part of something larger than ourselves. She delighted in hosting countless baby showers, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners. Her punch bowl did not collect dust. This too is passed on to her children as they each bring their own families together each holiday. Huge Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas breakfasts are core memories for four generations with Judy’s hand molding and guiding them through the years.

Everyone asked about mom and her health. They all express the positive impact she had in their lives. Mom always had a kind word and voiced her genuine concern for the well being of others. She shared her own health struggles to extend compassion and understanding to others on their own journey. She is loved and will be deeply missed by all.

Judy is survived by her husband Danny, her children Danny Jr. (Kristine), Todd (Mary), and Elizabeth (Michael) Elliott her eight grandchildren: Olivia, Sophia, Gus, Stephen, Novina, Julianna, Magnus, and Gunner; her stepfather, Curtis Johnson (Judy), her siblings, Joel, Phyllis, Vickie, and Lara Jean; and her dog Jack aka “Little Dirty”. There will be a mass dedicated to mom at St. James Catholic Church Friday, March 31st at 2pm. Reception will be in the church hall immediately following mass. If you prefer to send a donation in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. James Catholic Church of Henderson or the St. James Alar Society.

The Williford family is honorably being served by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan.