Judith Hooker Guttery

She lived her whole life in the Memphis area except for the 4 years that she spent at Ole Miss.

She graduated from White Station High School in 1960 where she was head majorette and even twirled on the barge in the Cotton Carnival.

She graduated from Ole Miss in 1964 with a B.S. in Education where she met and married the love of her life, John McQueen Guttery, III. After they married, they had a daughter, Lynda Kathryn (Kathy), before leaving Oxford and coming back to set up their life in Memphis. Four years later their son John McQueen, IV was born.

She worked at Memphis State University for over 20 years in payroll for Continuing Education and finally retired in 2003.

Judy was a loyal member of Wesleyan Hills UMC for 42 years. She enjoyed singing in the choir, teaching the youth Sunday school and organizing the church fundraiser of selling Pronto Pups at the Liberty Bowl Stadium for 8 years. She also loved having everyone over for chili after Christmas caroling. For the last 15 years, she has cherished her time at Covenant UMC and enjoyed fun, fellowship, singing in the choir and especially singing in the “Broadway” productions.

Judy’s loves were many, including the Ole Miss Rebels, Polo and Ralph Lauren, her dogs, shopping, cooking, bridge club and mostly her family. She treasured her memories of trips to Florida, Gatlinburg, canoeing and the horse races at Oaklawn in Hot Springs. She always loved entertaining her friends and family indoors and out by the pool.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, John, III and her children Kathy and John, IV; sister, Lynda Hughey, brother-in-law, Benton; sister-in-law, Katherine Evans; brother- and sister-in-law, Steve and Pam Guttery; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Covenant United Methodist Church at 8350 Walnut Grove Rd. Cordova, TN 38018. Visitation will be at 1:00 PM, services at 2:00 PM and a reception following the services. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Covenant UMC or St. Jude.