Born on July 8, 1972, in Greenville, SC, Julie was the daughter of the late John Thomas Lay, Sr., and the late Sandra Ray Lay. She graduated from Walhalla High School in 1990. Julie studied education at the College of Charleston and after graduation worked for the Charleston Post and Courier and The Aiken Standard. While living in Charleston, she met the love of her life, Mark Littleton. They married in 1997 and built a wonderful life together over the course of 25 years until her death. Their mutual love, humor, and wisdom served to unite and guide their immediate and extended families and friends.
Julie grew up in Walhalla, SC. From a young age, Julie showed the open-heartedness and determination she would demonstrate throughout her life and career. Her friends and teachers remember her as kind, observant, and a good friend. Her formative experiences included basketball, clogging, and, generally, bossing around her older brother and sister. After moving to Columbus, she began her 24 year career at AFLAC – from early beginnings as a temporary employee to Senior Manager within the company. She received her certification in Project Management from Cal-Berkeley in 2016. Over the course of her career, her dedication, focus, and integrity became the hallmarks of her work. She was respected by her colleagues for her attention to detail, project management skills, and her kind but focused leadership. Because of her high achievement and strong emotional intelligence, she was often asked to mentor other employees. In addition to her work at AFLAC, Julie was a strong proponent for cancer awareness and fundraising. She served as the Breast Cancer Survivor Honoree at the Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon in 2017.
Julie’s selfless devotion to her children was unparalleled, and she made all those she loved and championed feel profoundly understood. She often saw key details others missed, and with a quiet fierceness, always chose to act on them. After her mother’s death twenty years ago, Julie selflessly assumed the responsibility of helping her father manage all the small but important details of his life as a widower. She carefully selected gifts for the grandchildren, sent plants to neighbors for small kindnesses, and called distant family members to keep them up to date. She also managed a raucous annual Family Beach Trip for over 20 years. She was the glue of her family. And this year -- despite her illness, and with Mark’s, Abby’s, and Luke’s unflinching support -- she powered her way through preparations for what was to be her final beach week as a dear wife, mother, sister, and aunt. She spent her final days surrounded by her loving family, who gathered in awe as she prepared them for her departure. In so doing, Julie reminded them all of the precious gift of a life well-lived and a family well-loved.
Julie is survived by her husband Mark Andrew Littleton, her children Abigail Littleton and Luke Littleton, her parents-in-law Frank and Cherry Littleton, her siblings John T. Lay, Jr. and wife Sharon, Joanna Lay Westbrook and husband Craig, her brother-in-law Adam Littleton and wife Amy, and her nieces and nephews: Sarah Westbrook, Claire Westbrook, Eliza Lay, Thomas Lay, Paige Littleton, Max Littleton, James Lay, and Mya Littleton.
Julie was preceded in death by her parents and brother, John Robert Lay.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Friday August 5, 2022, at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, 4071 Macon Road Columbus, GA 31907.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, August 4, 2022 at the Green Island Country Club, 6501 Standing Boy Rd, Columbus, GA 31904
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Piedmont Columbus Regional John B. Amos Cancer Center, 1831 5th Ave. Columbus, GA 31904
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Littleton family.
