Julia Railey Justice

Julia Railey Justice of Raleigh, North Carolina (NC), passed away on Tuesday December 9, 2025, at the age of 88 after a brief battle with lung cancer. She had previously survived a bout with breast cancer in 2008.

Born on December 26, 1936, in Suffolk, Virgina (VA), she cherished the lifelong close friendships she developed with several women she grew up with in her home town. She always made the effort to stay in touch with them over the years, calling or sending cards on important dates, and taking the time to visit them whenever possible.

She attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh with a bachelor’s degree in Education. She worked as an elementary school teacher for several years in VA and NC before becoming a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker. Julia married Herbert Adin Justice of Forest City, NC, on July 8, 1961, and enjoyed sixty-four years of marriage. She had two daughters, Leigh and Michele, and was mother to three cats (Muffin, Dusty, and Princess). After her children became teenagers, she worked in the stockroom of J.C. Penney at North Hills Mall in Raleigh for many years. In retirement, she liked to stay fit by attending gym classes.

When her children were young, she was talked into being a Girl Scout troop co-leader by another Scout mother and helped organize many fun events for her oldest daughter’s troop. Though she thankfully relinquished this role after her term was up (she was not a fan of camping!), during this time she developed an enduring friendship with her fellow troop leader that led to many years of fun trips to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (SC), cookouts, and holiday gatherings by both families. She liked to play dominoes and was skilled at card games, such as canasta and bridge. An avid reader, she often attended author readings with a good friend at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. She was a big fan of the North Carolina State University Wolfpack, enjoyed attending home basketball games, and held season tickets to home football games for over sixty years. She superstitiously baked Congo squares for every home football game tailgate to help ensure a State win.

Julia attended Methodist churches in Suffolk, Greenville, NC, and Raleigh, and created many beautiful knit and crocheted prayer shawls, blankets, and scarves to comfort community members with health issues. An active member of the North Raleigh Lions Club for over twenty-five years, she served on its Board and regularly attended meetings, conferences, and fundraising events. She was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, a prestigious recognition from Lions Clubs International that honors individuals for their humanitarian service and dedication. She supported numerous Lions Club service projects to benefit the blind, including the NC Lions VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) Fishing Tournament, a three-day event held annually in Manteo, NC, to provide educational, recreational, and personal growth opportunities to serve visually impaired persons.

She is survived by her husband, Herb; daughter Michele Justice; son-in-law Greg Hedrick (wife Nita); and grandsons, Gregory Hedrick (wife Mariah, daughter Isla), Logan Hedrick (wife Hannah), and Alexander Hedrick (wife Madison).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis and May King Railey; her sister, Martha Railey Mundy; and her daughter, Rebecca Leigh Justice Hedrick.

Julia was an indifferent cook, preferring to leave meal preparation to her husband, who was the more inventive chef, but she was an excellent baker. She was known for her deviled eggs (with and without pickles), Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole (pecan-brown sugar topping, no marshmallows!), and especially her delicious pound cake, which she made for every special occasion. Family members looked forward to having pound cake whenever she visited. The torch has now passed to her daughter and granddaughters-in-law to honor her memory by continuing to use her recipes.

The family would like to thank the medical staff at Bayada Home Health Care, Rex Hospital, and Heartland Hospice for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. The thoughtful gifts of food and kind words of support from members of the North Raleigh Lions Club and family friends during this difficult time has been very much appreciated.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday February 21, 2026 in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home. Julia’s ashes will be interred in the mausoleum at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to support the NC Lions VIP Fishing Tournament (“NC Lions VIP,” ; a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, tax ID 56-1782118;) or to support important research, advocacy, and educational efforts of the American Lung Association, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory of Julia, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.