Judith Mattox

Love of the Lord, love of family, music, church, teaching, and creatively stitching on her Bernina are just the beginning of a cherished list of those things that brought joy to the heart of Judy Mattox, and which she so freely shared with others. On June 25, 2015 Judith McMillan Blakewood Mattox went to bed in her home in Baton Rouge, and woke up in the arms of our Lord surrounded by many who love her, and free from the earthly entrapment of Parkinson's disease with which she had lived for over two decades. She was the daughter of William Kirby McMillan and Flora T. McMillan, wife of Eldred Griffin Blakewood III, and William Judson Mattox II, and mother of Eldred Griffin Blakewood IV, Tara Blakewood Cochran, April Blakewood Fontenot and Derek Kirby Blakewood. She also leaves five grandchildren, Eldred and Harrison Blakewood, Blake and Kirbi Cochran and Sydney Fontenot. Born on December 31, 1937 she was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge. Judy began singing early in life, and would walk from her home on 7th Street to the local radio station to sing as part of weekend programming. Her vocal gift led her to earn a Bachelor of Music from Louisiana State University in 1959, where she sang in several operas and numerous concerts with the L.S.U. A Cappella Choir, followed by over 40 years of singing in the First Baptist Church choir as soloist and choir member. She later continued her educational pursuits and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Education from L.S.U. i n 1974, followed by a Master of Education degree in 1978, and Certificate of Education Specialist in 1988. Utilizing her gift as a teacher, she spent 20 years at Shenandoah Elementary School and in 1990/91 was selected as Shenandoah Elementary teacher of the year, and became a top five finalist for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Teachers of the Year. Her beauty and poise were recognized as she was honored as a Baton Rouge High School Beauty in 1952 and 1954 and Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Queen in 1958. She graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1955. All who knew her loved her and were saddened to see her physical affliction of the past years. The beautiful person that she was on the inside and out will remain in our hearts forever. We know her voice now joins an amazing heavenly chorus praising our Lord. A combined visitation and funeral service will be held Monday, June 29th at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m and the service at 12:00 noon, followed by a reception also at Greenoaks.