Julie Ann Erwin

While our hearts ache, the time has come to say farewell as we celebrate the life of our beloved Mother, Julie Ann (Lumpkin) Erwin who left her earthly body on Sunday, December 12, 2021. While her physical body had undergone many challenges over the years as she struggled with her health, no one could deny that Julie had an indomitable spirit and was one of the strongest people one could ever meet. She rebounded time and again after illness and injury and she fought fiercely to be a presence of love and meaning in the lives of those she cared for. Though her later years did not play out quite as she had envisioned in her youth, she was resilient and determined to watch her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up, and she succeeded in making a profound difference in each and every one of their lives. Though her physical body has finally surrendered, the memories of her love and of her beautiful soul will never fade.

Julie was born the second child to Mary and Carl Lumpkin on August 25, 1945. Her youth was spent in Oak Ridge, Tennessee where she graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1963, having participated in many activities including cheerleading, basketball and as a member of the "Swankettes". Soon after graduating, Julie married her high school sweetheart, William George Erwin.

Julie and George moved several times as a young couple, eventually settling down in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they would raise their three children, Bill, Scott and Tracy. Later moves would take them to Cincinnati, Ohio and finally to their retirement home in Kingston, Tennessee where they would live out their days. Julie is preceded in death by her husband, William George Erwin, her mother, Mary Russell Lumpkin, her father Carl Boyd Lumpkin, and her brother Ron Lumpkin. She is survived by her children and their spouses, William Luther (“Bill”) Erwin and his wife Susan, Scott Carl Erwin and his wife Eileen, Tracy Ellen Erwin-Grabner and her husband Chad, as well as her many grandchildren whom she absolutely adored: George, Drew, Bubba, Maddie, Eloise, Sam and Norah and most recently her first great-grandchild Aurora. She will be deeply missed by her long-term caretakers Paula Broome and Judy Daugherty who were her dear friends and “partners in crime” for many years.

Julie was an immensely talented and creative individual whose personality and contagious smile lit up and took over a room. Her taste and eye for beauty was immediately evident upon entering her home and taking in her impressive handy work in a variety of arts and crafts and her love of decorating. She treasured doing needlepoint, quilting, and crocheting. She made paintings, loved photography, collected antique dolls and refinished much of the furniture in the home she became such a part of. Her incredible talent as a seamstress is forever memorialized in the beautiful wedding dresses she made by hand for her daughter and daughters-in-law, the business she created to sell her handmade dancewear in the 90's, and the countless costumes and tutus that she created for multiple ballet companies over the years, not to mention the many Halloween costumes and the clothes made-with-love for her children when they were growing up (even if they would have preferred store bought at the time!). Her immense talent, and creativity are a thread that has been passed down to her children and her grandchildren.

Julie had a relentless love for her family, friends and pets, of which she had many. She was a "keeper of stories" and could recall vivid details from times past that many others would have long forgotten. Julie knew how to create a home that was a place of comfort and joy, not only for her own family but for those who became her family (once even hosting a family of red foxes under her deck!). Throughout the years the welcoming space she fostered was a second home for many and was a place where many cherished memories were created.

One of Julie's greatest pleasures in life was being surrounding by her family in her home and sharing memories with those she loved. Her preparation for these visits was often intense, with phone calls, emails, trips to the store and deliveries made, all to ensure that the needs, wishes, wants and desires of her family were taken care of to the last detail. Julie often prepared activity and meal plans for the entire duration of a visit! This veracity remained until the end, while she was mentally preparing for soon-to-be visitors over the Holidays. One could always be certain that a visit would hold good times together, including playing games, shopping, and swapping stories of times past over a delicious family meal. Her love of good food, including favorites like Chicago style pizza, bagels, brownies and other delicacies (with a diet coke or two on the side, or in later years tea with sweet-n-low!) was well known.

Above all, she wanted her family to know her deep and abiding love for them. The expressions "family first", "food from the heart" and "I love you most" rang true with Julie. During one of her last conversations she expressed how much she was looking forward to having Chinese buffet when everyone would be home with her for Christmas. If you loved Julie and want to honor her memory, the next time you gather with family and friends you love or enjoy a treasured meal, take just a moment to remember her joy of life and make a toast to her.

Julie will be dearly missed by her friends and family and those who knew her. One of her grandchildren described her as being "down to earth" but those earth bound tethers have been released and her spirit is now free to soar, swift and powerful like the hawks in the sky. Look up and you might feel her continued presence there too.

A memorial service will soon be planned with dates to follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Erwin family.