Judy Nell Branham Chambers

LEXINGTON – Judy Nell Branham Chambers of Lexington, age 70, passed away surrounded by her family on January 26, 2021 after an extended illness. She is survived by her husband, Gary Ellis Chambers, of 47 years. She was the mother of two sons, Cory Ellis Chambers (Katie) of Fort Mill and Joshua Lee Chambers (Sarah) of Lexington. She was blessed to be the grandmother of four precious grandchildren who were the delight of her life: Briggs Ellis Chamber, the son of Cory and Katie Chambers, who courageously lost his battle with a degenerative genetic disease in 2016 and daughter, Annabelle Branham (age 5); Gavin Lee (age 7) and Liam Forrest (age 4), sons of Joshua and Sarah Chambers.

Judy Nell was born May 26, 1950. She was the daughter of the late Samuel E. and Nell Lever Branham. They resided in Cayce where she was a 1968 graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School. There she was a cheerleader as well as valedictorian of her graduating class. Judy Nell continued her undergraduate education at Furman University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. In 1975, she earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

While in college, Judy Nell worked at BellSouth during the summers. After completion of law school, she began a long career in the legal department of BellSouth. She later worked in a management position in Operations and then in the Executive Department, where she worked with the Public Service Commission. She was also a registered lobbyist. While at BellSouth, she also served as a Loan Executive for The United Way and on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army. She was also a graduate of Leadership Columbia. She retired in 2008 after 34 of service.

Judy Nell and Gary were married at Cayce United Methodist Church in 1974. They moved to Lexington in 1978, where they enjoyed over forty years of living on Lake Murray. After moving to Lexington, they joined Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church.

Judy Nell joined the Lexington Woman’s Club in 1987, where she served as president from 1993-94 and was selected as Club Woman of the Year in 2003. She was also honored by her husband with a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship. In 1999, Judy Nell was a charter member of the Lexington Cotillion. She was an avid member of IPTAY for over 50 years. One of her passions was attending football games at Clemson University, with family and friends. She also enjoyed attending athletic events and the annual Angelus Society Dinner at Christ School, in Arden, NC, which was her husband’s alma mater.

Judy Nell always looked forward to taking a fall trip to Maine with her husband, for over 20 years, especially enjoying lobster at Red’s in Wiscasset, Maine. She also enjoyed annual family trips at Thanksgiving and Christmas to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. The family vacationed for many summers on the Carolina coast.

Judy Nell was a loyal friend to many. The family would like to extend special thanks to Rhonda Coleman, a friend and caretaker, and to those who loved and cared for Judy Nell through her extended illness.

A celebration of Judy Nell’s life will be held at the gazebo at Woodridge Memorial Park at 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2021 with the interment immediately following the service. The service may be viewed via livestream on Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel's Facebook page. Arrangements are being made by Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

Pallbearers will be Cory Chambers, Joshua Chambers, Bobby Eleazer, Charlie Newman, Dr. Will Brearley, Rhett Clark, and Rob Christofoli. Honorary Pallbearers are Jane Barnhill, Janet Sternenburg, Linda King Hoffman, and members of the Lexington Woman’s Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Christ School Fund, 500 Christ School Road, Arden, NC, 28704 and Carolina Sunshine for Children, P.O. Box 1803, Columbia, SC 29202.