Julia was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother to her daughter-in-law, who always put family first. She believed in “Tough Love”.
She was a devout Christian and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Columbus. Julia was born in Monroeville, Alabama and raised on a dirt road in the woods of Ollie, Alabama. She graduated from high school in Excel, Alabama. Julia met her husband, Gary, at a high school football game. Gary saw her and fell in love. She told him she had to be 16 years old to date and he said “I’ll be back when you are 16. He didn’t forget Julia and he came back to date her. They married in Frisco City, Alabama on July 2, 1960 and 63 ½ years of wonderful marriage followed.
Julia worked as the Chief Clerk of the Tax Assessors office in Monroeville, Alabama while Gary attended Auburn University. She would say she was regular chicken soup and a stay at home mom. She volunteered at West Central Georgia Regional Hospital. She was very involved in bringing Teen Challenge to Columbus and helped numerous troubled teens. She was active in fundraising and placement of troubled teenage boys at the Paul Anderson Youth Home. Julia looked forward to Saturday morning breakfast with her husband and son after their walks at Cooper Creek Park. She enjoyed hearing their stories and seeing pictures of their encounters with wildlife.
Julia always spoke of how grateful she was to have Angie caring for her and for dad. She was an avid gardener who delighted in identifying and pointing out plants, flowers and trees. She loved the beauty of God’s creation, especially pairs of Cardinals with their young at the feeders outside of her kitchen window. Julia missed her husband, Gary, and was escorted by their Guardian Angel to be with him after only three days. They sang “True Love” by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly to each other every night at bedtime for 63 ½ years. Julia was by definition a true lady and “She was a Good Woman”.
She leaves her loving memory to be cherished by her children: Gerald Alan (Toni) McCrory and Angela Marie McCrory; her beloved grandchildren: Bradley Thomas Smith, Sky (Kristina) McCrory, Russell Davis (Keisha) McCrory, Heather Thompson, Brianna (Daniel) Hofstadt; her beloved great-grandchildren: Noah Hilliker, Bradley Thomas Smith Jr., Russell Davis McCrory Jr., Kaiden Rivers, and Cameron Rivers. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 ½ years, Gary Davis McCrory; her parents James Wilson White and Myrtice Sawyer White; her brothers: Donald White and William White; and her sister, Nelda White.
A service to honor the life of Julia McCrory along with her husband Gary will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 11:00 AM in Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907. The family will receive guests one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Columbus, PO Box 828,
Columbus, GA 31902.
