Julia "Judy" Cooledge Acuff

Julia “Judy” Cooledge Acuff died peacefully in her home of 65 years on the afternoon of June 20, 2026. It was in this home that she and her husband, Lindsay, raised their four children and welcomed any and all who came through the door.

Judy was born to Frederick Jerome and Floy Matthews Cooledge in October 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, living her entire life within 3 miles of her childhood home on Rivers Road. The last of her generation, she was predeceased by her siblings Louise Galfus, Calvin Cooledge, and Carolyn Harber. Judy attended E. Rivers Elementary and completed high school at Washington Seminary in 1947. She then attended Shorter College, Stetson University, and ultimately graduated from the University of Georgia. Judy was introduced to Lindsay Acuff at the church she attended all her life, Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. Their first date was going to a Georgia Tech football game while Judy was still in high school. They married several years later in 1952, and celebrated 64 years of marriage before Lindsay passed away in 2016. For over fifty of those years, they continued going to Tech games, and whenever the Yellow Jackets scored, Lindsay would celebrate by kissing her. She, along with so many others, loved him dearly, as he loved her.

The home that Judy and Lindsay created was full of love, laughter, quick wit, good food, sweet tea, friends and relatives (and their friends and relatives), practical jokes, and lots of projects. While examples of their hospitality abound, the “Sunday Letter” was instituted when their son Lin went off to college at Georgia Tech and would bring a few friends home for Sunday dinner. Each week, everyone crammed around the dining room table added a couple of sentences to a letter which was then copied and mailed to the families of all who were present. Judy deeply valued the support and friendship of Anne Sutton, who had worked for Judy’s mother since before Judy was born. Annie was instrumental in rearing the Acuff children and remained a beloved part of the family until her death in 1994.

The Acuffs’ hospitality extended to two other places that were immensely important to their family: the Fort Gates home and the cabin at Ellijay. Fort Gates, in an isolated spot on the St. Johns River in the Ocala National Forest, had belonged to the Cooledge family since the early 1900s. The Acuff family, including beloved family pets, would spend summers and many a Christmas there—a crowd of family and friends—with Judy at the helm, finding a way to feed everyone. (Beef Olé was a classic.) Folks would linger around the big dining table after supper telling wild and often true stories and laughing until the tears flowed. While Judy wasn’t often the one to initiate the many shenanigans that unfolded at Fort Gates, she was always a willing accomplice and would never rat anyone out. The Christmas Pageant of 1992, with Judy as a co-director, will live on in the annals of family history.

“Ellijay” was another special place of solace that Judy and Lindsay created. Together they built a log cabin beside a beautiful winding creek in North Georgia, doing most of the work themselves along with their children and anyone else they could recruit. Ellijay drew out a love of country life in Judy, who delighted in having a full vegetable garden and a place close to Atlanta for gatherings. “Camp Ellijay,” which Judy and Lindsay held for their grandchildren, was a memorable summer tradition full of days spent in the creek, on rope swings, romping through the woods, and working up an appetite for the fresh food from Judy’s garden—which was full of vegetables, berries, and flowers, exemplifying her appreciation for nourishment and natural beauty alike. The values instilled and memories created over the years are indelible in the hearts of her children, grandchildren and those lucky enough to have spent time in the places Judy made a home.

Judy’s career in Early Education began in the late 1960s. She worked as a teacher and director at Second-Ponce de Leon Preschool before she became the director of Northside Methodist Preschool, all while completing her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Georgia State University. She successfully took Northside through an arduous accreditation process and was actively involved in the Georgia Preschool Association, serving on the board for several years. For 27 years, Judy made a lasting impact on the lives of children and their families. Judy and several teachers began having lunch together on Thursdays after school. When five of them retired around the same time, they continued the weekly tradition for an amazing 30 years until the pandemic hit. They were dear friends and a real hoot.

Retirement did not slow Judy down. She volunteered at West Paces Ferry Hospital and later Emory-Adventist Hospital. When the 1996 Olympics came to Atlanta, she and Lindsay opened their home to visiting athletes and their families. Active at Second-Ponce de Leon her whole life, Judy regularly helped prepare and serve spaghetti lunch for the Grant Park ministry in Atlanta. Wednesday mornings were reserved for a weekly hair appointment with Virginia, her hairdresser and friend for 50 years. Grandchildren near and far also kept her busy and her heart full—and kept the postal service busy, too. She never let a holiday or birthday pass without sending them cards. She and Lindsay were also grateful to have the chance to travel during this time, including trips to Switzerland, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Judy was well loved and loved well. She delighted folks with her quick, dry wit—measured with equal parts sweet and wry. She was an accomplished seamstress, an avid gardener who shared what she grew with friends and neighbors, a Girl Scout leader, a mentor, and a lover of books and an afternoon nap. Always devoted to God and her church, she attended Second-Ponce de Leon faithfully into her 90s, caring for babies in the nursery, participating in her Sunday School class and serving others through mission work. She was honored to receive the church’s Missions Award in 2015 for her many years of service. Friends, colleagues, and young parents found they could rely on Judy to listen, offer wise counsel and find comfort in the reassurances she gave. Whether a garden, a classroom, a friendship, or a home, Judy cultivated everything in her life with deep care, attention, and a grace that made her contributions seem effortless. She was the force behind a rich legacy of stories and memories, and the distinct sparkle in her eyes never vanished.

She leaves behind her son Lin Acuff (Cindy) and their children Sims (Carmen), Abby, Matthew (Lauren), Laura Weiland (Trent), Olivia, and Will; daughters Laura Price (David) and their children, Michael and Jennifer; Susan McCraw (Bill) and their children, Caroline (Micah Perry) and Emily; and Juliane Watts (Ron). She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Of all of her many accomplishments, Judy always said she was most proud of her children and how they turned out. In turn, they are grateful for the loving home, strong foundation and the many skills she and Lindsay provided them. Judy’s quick wit and the lessons she taught by example to care for others, offer hospitality, and share the tomatoes from your garden will endure.

The family wishes to thank her caregivers and those who supported her in recent years, providing steadfast and loving care: Marsha, Suzette, Norma, Becky, and Sherrie.

A celebration of life will be held at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church on Saturday, August 1, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service. The family asks for nothing more than your presence and prayers. For those who wish to do more, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 or the ARC of Oconee County, SC, 295 Market St. Seneca, SC 29678.