Judith G. Jarrell

Judy passed away peacefully on Monday morning July 3, 2017. She was born the eldest of five children on February 9, 1941 to Bill and Sybil Woodruff. Judy and her siblings were raised in Durham, North Carolina (once a Tarheel, always a Tarheel). Judy was active in Girl Scout Brownies and Girl Scouts, but mostly she preferred to spend her time as a caregiver and loving big sister to her younger siblings. Judy’s big heart and nurturing personality shined as she also proudly cared for the family pets, which included cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses. Judy met her future husband, Philip Jarrell, while attending a middle school dance. After courting throughout high school they decided to marry. They would later have three children, Kimberly, Philip Jr., and Michelle. Judy treasured her career as a mother and was always involved in their academic and athletic activities. Her main priority was to make sure her children were happy and successful in whatever they chose to do in life. She wasn’t only a mother to her own three children but was known as the “neighborhood mother” for all the children nearby as well. Judy showed her love and instantly made friends by cooking for everyone around her. She was even able to collect and create an impressive assortment of family recipes that will be passed on for generations. In 1977 Judy moved from North Carolina to California with her husband and their children. After the move she worked as a customer service representative while she continued to raise her three children, who were in high school and college by that time. She thoroughly enjoyed seeing her children grow and start their adult lives. She was delighted to later become a grandmother to six grandchildren. She was always present in her grandchildren’s lives and became a staple at every graduation, church activity, birthday party, dance recital, and sporting event. In addition to trying new recipes, raising her children, and caring for her grandchildren, Judy truly loved to travel. She enjoyed seeing new places with her husband and would usually return with wonderful stories about site seeing or delicious meals she experienced. Judy is survived by her loving husband, Philip Jarrell, daughters Kimberly Dedrick and Michelle Jarrell, son Philip Jarrell Jr. and his wife Jeannine, sister Tricia Montague and her husband Roy, brother Grier Woodruff and his wife Judy. She left behind six grandchildren, Brenton, Joshua, Lauren, Katelyn, Jordan, and MacKenzie. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Hailey, Sofia, and Joshua II. Judy touched the hearts of everyone she encountered and her presence will be greatly missed. Her soul is joined in heaven by her parents, brother Tommy, sister Tanya, and son-in-law Robert. Life is like a twinkle of a star in God’s creation.