Judy Grace Berry

Mrs. Judy Tippens Smith-Berry departed this life, October 20, 2020 at East Georgia Medical Center in Statesboro, GA. She was born, April 20, 1954 to the late Glenn Tippens and Annie Mae Arthur-Tippens in Blackshear, GA. Judy lived most of her life in Glennville, GA being reared by her grandmother the late Minnie Hines Arthur-Parker. She was educated in the Public-School System of Tattnall County, GA and graduated in 1973 from Glennville High School, Glennville, GA. After graduation she worked in the garment manufacturing industry for many years before attending Southeastern Technical l receiving her CNA Certificate and was employed by Pineland Mental Health where she took a genuine interest in her clients and loved and cared for them deeply. At an early age Judy joined the Greater Zachariah Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. T.J. Lynch, later joining the St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral of the late Rev. C.W. Mobley. Judy later moved her membership and united with the First African Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Clarence E. Boles, Jr. She served as an Usher of the church, a ministry she found rewarding and was diligent and devoted to her duties and greeted you at the door with a warm and welcoming smile. She also served as President of the Mission Ministry. She supported other ministries of First African Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Derrick Ryals. Judy married Johnny Smith, Sr. To the union 2 children were born. She later married Kenneth Berry. If, you knew Judy or crossed her path you knew she was always smiling and joking around. She never met a stranger. She loved people! She was preceded in death by one son, Shawn Tippens and seven of her siblings, Annie Merle Harris, Edward Tippens, James Tippens, Willie Tippens, Billy Tippens, Curtis Rogers and Gussie M. Slacks. Judy leaves her cherished memories to her daughter, Sonja Tippens, Glennville, GA; two sons, Johnny Smith, Jr., Atlanta, GA and Lance Smith, Glennville, GA; one sister Minnie Lee Sanders, VA; Twelve grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren. Two special daughters, Jalicia Thomas and Debra Monroe both of Glennville, GA; a special son, Christopher Davis, Ludowici, GA; a special aunt (who was like a mother) Leola Arthur, Glennville, GA; a forever friend, Gloria Crump, Glennville, GA; a special cousin, Dianne Mobley, Glennville, GA, a very special couple, David and Juliet Richardson, Ludowici, GA and the children of the late Fletcher Arthur, Sr. and Leola Arthur( Juanita, Fletcher, Jr., Jo Ann, Brenda, Gwen, Lucille, Ricky, Pam, Sharry and Alisa) who were like her sisters and brothers. Judy will also be missed by many, many friends, acquaintances, nieces, nephews and other cousins and the community.