Judy Dempsey

Mrs. Judy Dempsey, age 79, born September 3, 1933 to the late Joseph Lafayette and Floy Denman of Auburndale, Florida passed away after a heroic battle on December 20, 2012 at Hartford Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, December 22, 2012 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Al Leach of New Teamon Baptist Church of Slocomb officiating. Following the service there will be a private burial for family only at Crestlawn Cemetery in Avon, AL. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Saturday.

After attending school in Auburndale, Florida Mrs. Dempsey married her late husband, Jerome "Vernon" Dempsey, and relocated to the Wiregrass area. Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey were married for 59 years.

Known for her ease in frequent conversation with even total strangers, Mrs. Dempsey always possessed a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor. Her signature gift of joy shown through her constant smiling, laughter and joking around will never be forgotten.

Judy faithfully cared for her family through delicious cooking and baking. She had a zest for life and enjoyed reading, spending time with her grandchildren and chatting with friends and family. After retiring from Sony she adventured in traveling which she loved very much. As a loving mother she always instilled in her children the values of life; hard work, compassion and honesty.

She is preceded in death by several family members in the Auburndale, Florida area.

She is survived by one daughter and five sons, Loma Dempsey-Andersen (Raymond) of Enterprise, William "Bill" Dempsey of Dothan, Curtis Dempsey (Karen) of Dothan, Wiley Dempsey (Amy) of Montgomery, Marc Dempsey (Kim) of Ashford and Gregg Dempsey (Teresa) of Ashford; 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, who all knew her  as "MEMA"; a sister, Ina Aderholtof Tallahassee, FL; many nieces and nephews.