Vida Joann ("Jody") Furnish of Dallas died on December 9, 2018, after a long illness. Her professional training was in modern dance, and her professional life was spent primarily as a public school teacher (in Dallas, San Francisco, and a U.S. military base in Japan), and as a social worker (for the Methodist Church in the former Republic of Congo-Leopoldville, and for several Dallas agencies and programs). Throughout her life she was a fearless and outspoken advocate for social justice, holding leadership positions in a number of Dallas organizations that work with and for the city's marginalized and under-served. Jody was born in Dallas on July 12, 1933, the eldest child of Vida (Lutrell) and DeWitt Carmichael. Following graduation from Highland Park High School, she earned a bachelor's degree at Southern Methodist University and a master's degree in modern dance at San Francisco State University. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Victor; daughters, Brianna Furnish and Rebecca McNeal (Keith); grandchildren, Kailey and Evan McNeal; brother, Jim Carmichael (Nancy); and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 14, at 10:30 a.m. in the Perkins Chapel, Southern Methodist University. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
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