Judy was born on January 25, 1950 in Thomasville, Georgia at Archbold Memorial and was the third child of Robert Harrell and Doris Maxine Burgess.
She graduated from James S. Rickards High School in 1968. Judy went directly to work at Sunland Hospital in Tallahassee as a nurses’ aid working with children with severe disabilities. She lived in the dormitory on the hospital campus and worked there until she married her first husband, Edgar Thompson in 1969. She and Edgar were married 17 years during in which their only child, George Thompson was born. Judy later remarried, Carl Screws in 1990 and they enjoyed six happy years together until his death in 1996.
Judy was a founding member of First Pentecostal Church of Havana for 18 years which is now Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church. Though her declining health prohibited her from attending church as much as she wished, Judy’s love for God and his people was unquestionable.
Judy loved people especially children. She enjoyed assisting in Sunday School, Vacation Bible Schools as well as church cleaning or anything else she was asked to do. Judy loved to bake cookies. She sold them (really gave them away for $1 a bag) in her neighborhood and they were always in great demand. She will be remembered for the kindness and listening ear she extended to everyone she knew and met.
Judy is survived by her son, George Thompson, and her siblings, Latretha Miller, Kay Miller, Bobbie Rednour, Thomas Burgess and Marrell Cooper as well as their spouses and many nieces and nephews which she adored.
She will be missed by many.
Visitation will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, on August 22, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm with funeral services beginning at 12pm.
