Judith Jones Preston, 86, died Monday, April 27, at Brookdale of Staunton. She was the widow of James Albert Preston. Judy is survived by a son, Michael, of Lynchburg, Virginia, a daughter, Michelle, and son-in-law, J. Christopher Wiltshire, of Richmond, Virginia, and two grandchildren, James Preston Wiltshire, of New York City, and Katherine Brett Wiltshire, of Charlottesville, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Mabel Bright Jones Hollowell and Marshall Henry Jones of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Judy was born January 8, 1929 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and graduated from Elizabeth City High School in 1947. She attended Bennington College in Vermont, Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, and the Art Students League in New York. Married in 1954, Judy and Jim moved to Harrisonburg in 1958 and lived there until 2012, when they relocated to Staunton.
A talented artist, Judy enthusiastically pursued both commercial and fine art projects throughout her life. She wrote local radio and illustrated local newspaper advertisements, and spent several years producing the in-house newsletter for Space Conditioning, Inc. (Dunham Bush). Judy painted portraits of many Harrisonburg citizens and enjoyed photographing and painting scenes of her two favorite places, the Shenandoah Valley and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She hosted a live television show, “Art with Judy” on WSVA in the early 1960s and taught sketching and painting to children in Harrisonburg for many years, which she loved. After doing years of research, Judy published The Outer Banks Story, a historical coloring book she wrote and illustrated, in 1985. She was a great fan of the theater and loved attending live musical performances ranging from bluegrass to opera.
The family would like to thank the many dedicated staff members at Brookdale of Staunton who provided care and friendship to Judy and her family.
Burial will be private.
Share memories and condolences at www.charltonandgroomefuneralhome.com.
