Judith Jane Brown Lamb was fueled by Sun Drop, her love for the Lord, and the power of prayer. She leaves behind her family, countless friends, and more people than we’ll ever know who, at least in Judy’s mind, were already her friends.
She moved through life one slow, steady step at a time, usually with her purse in one hand and her Bible in the other. Whether you were trying to leave church or make a “quick” (four-hour) trip to Walmart, speed simply wasn’t part of the plan. She talked to everybody. She loved people. And they loved her back.
As the oldest daughter of eleven siblings, Judy helped raise many of her younger brothers and sisters. They remained close throughout the years, and it has always been easy to locate them in any building simply by following their laughter. Judy’s laugh radiated joy. She loved jokes.
Judy also took after her mother and wrote many poems and songs throughout her life, including Freddy Frog, Today at Doggy Daycare, Summertime Is Here, and the timeless classic, My Dog Has Fleas. She penned the verse for the adorable children’s book, Gaudy Goosey Gander, published by AuthorHouse in 2009.
Judy leaves behind a vast collection of happy memories, including years of loud, busy family gatherings; “happy hours” on the porch of the cabin in Taft, Tennessee; and trips to Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Her grandchildren will specifically cherish the little things: calling just to say hi or to tell her something funny that happened to them; prayers for traveling mercies (remember to honk twice at the end of the driveway!); food blessings that went on way too long for hungry tummies; trips to the Dollar Store or Walmart with “Granny and Paw Paw”; playing in her house dresses; running through clothes hanging on the clothesline (she loved to do laundry); insisting Theran play the baby Jesus in the holiday skit long after he had outgrown the laundry basket; making home movies; and eating cornbread from the cast iron skillet. More often than not, the grandchildren went home with one of her jars of whatever she’d canned that season. (Dibs on pickles!)
She was welcomed Home on the evening of July 7, 2026, by her husband, Leon Lamb; her grandchildren, Little Tim Russell and Ty Atkinson; her parents, Reverend Elmon Brown, Sr. and Janie Stevens Brown; her brothers, Reverend Elmon Brown, Jr., Steve Brown, and Reverend Tim Brown; her brothers-in-law, Gary Glover and Jack Williams; her sister-in-law, Teresa Brown; and her beloved dog, Dot. Even Kenneth Sharp, her high school sweetheart, first husband, father of her three girls, and dear friend, was happy to see her! We can practically hear the reunion from here. (It’s our understanding that Heaven has yet to pass noise ordinances.)
Judy is survived by her daughters, Melanie Bishop (David), Beverly Atkinson, and Cynthia Russell (Tim); her grandchildren, Amanda Lachapelle, Emily Young (Justin), Amery Travis, Briget Neeley (Jeremy), Theran Atkinson (Rebecca), and Jessie Sparks (Davin); her nine great-grandchildren, Christina, Jackson, Georgia, Natalie, Lila, Olivia, Raelynn, Emma, and Rylee; her siblings, Joel Brown (Martha), Rebecca Wells (Ray), Cynthia Williams, Ann Glover, Jon Brown (Dana), Paul Brown (Lorna), and Sarah Brown; dear friend and chosen family, Sandra Hurst; her sister-in-law, Carla Brown; and a large and loving extended family, including many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and dear friends.
As Judy would say, the family sends a kiss on top of the head to the following folks for surrounding her with care, compassion, and support during her final days: the staff of Regency Retirement Village; Aveanna Hospice; Amedisys Hospice; and the members of Chase Park Church of Christ who faithfully brought weekly worship services to the residents of Regency skilled nursing.
A celebration of Judy’s life was held on July 11, 2026, in Ardmore, Alabama, and was officiated by Pastor George Sawyer. The family will gather privately to inter Judy’s cremains at Carter Hills Cemetery in Coldwater, Tennessee at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Judy would be absolutely tickled if you’d send a donation in her honor to her home church, Calvary Assembly, in Decatur, Alabama.
