Judy Sockwell, 85, passed away June 12, 2013, in Birmingham, Ala.
She was born Julia Elizabeth Moore on Feb. 29, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo. She spent her childhood in and around Cleveland, Ohio, and her teens in New York City.
In New York, she kissed a few soldiers on their way to service in World War II, was a model and studied dance.
In 1953, she married Leon D. Sockwell, of Tuscumbia. She resided in Tuscumbia and Sheffield for most of the next 22 years. During that time, Judy played bridge, bowled and helped start a new church, was a member of the service leagues, acted in plays, sang and danced in the Follies and raised two children. She also started college for the first time in her 40s and graduated from the University of North Alabama with the Keller Key for the highest academic average in her class.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Polly D. Moore; her father, Robert E. Moore; her son, Mark D. Sockwell; and her first husband, Leon D. Sockwell.
She is survived by her sister, Nancy M. (Mert) Freudenthal, of Boerne, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Paul Shellum; daughter-in-law, Denise G. Sockwell and grandsons, Austin G. and Tyler M. Sockwell, all of Birmingham.
Though Judy left many years ago, remarried and became known as Julia Boling, she is coming back to Tuscumbia for her memorial service. If you remember Judy and have some stories to share, the family invites you to join them to celebrate her life and visit with the family at a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, 2013, at Colbert Memorial Chapel, 700 U.S. 43 South, Tuscumbia, AL 35674.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to your favorite charity .
