Judy Hart Forester Obituary
On February 2, 2023, Judy Hart Forester passed away in her home, surrounded by family, after a well fought and courageous battle with Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She was 58 years old. It would be wrong to say that Judy “lost” her battle because she never quit fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. Through her, we know what resilience and faith look like.
Judy was born April 2, 1964, to Jimmie and Margaret Hart in Holly Springs, Mississippi. She grew up and was surrounded by her “big ol” family, as Judy was 1 of 5 children and had a lot of Aunts/Uncles (10). Judy attended Potts Camp School before her family moved to Batesville, in 1980. Judy was a graduate of South Panola High School in 1982. She started her journey at Ole Miss as a freshman in the fall of 1982, then left to marry her childhood sweetheart, John, on June 2, 1984, and raise her children, Will and Ashley. During this time, Judy worked as a paralegal for eight years, Financial Secretary at First Baptist Church for three years, and then a Business Manager at Marshall Academy for fifteen years. In 2008, Judy joined The University of Mississippi, and worked in the Office of Admissions and Campus Recreation before moving to the Small Business Development Center in 2013. She served as the Associate State Director and Manager of SBDC Business Services since 2015. During her professional career with Ole Miss, Judy was also a student, and successfully completed her undergraduate degree, a BBA Management with an emphasis in Human Resources in 2013, followed by a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration in 2016.
Judy was an advocate for using each opportunity as a learning experience for personal and professional growth, she often called herself a “lifetime learner”. She was very inspired by her mentors throughout her time at Ole Miss, and became very passionate about helping others to achieve their own personal goals, as well as her own. Judy was someone who was very ambitious and was always seeking out opportunities to expand her knowledge. Judy was a member of the Madison County Business League & Foundation, served on the Board ofAccreditation with SBDC, she is a former member of the Holly Springs Garden club, an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, as well as was selected by the Mississippi Economic Council to participate in their annual “Leadership Mississippi”, where she successfully graduated from this prestigious program.
Outside of her many professional accomplishments, Judy was a very dedicated wife, mother, Juju, daughter, sister, aunt, but most importantly, was her relationship with Jesus. Judy was an active member of First Baptist Church in Holly Springs. Even through the difficult walk of cancer, Judy was never without her loving smile or her faith in God. She loved to love people fiercely and was always a kind and gentle helping hand to anyone in need. She never met a stranger and was always very welcoming and accepting to everyone. Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32 — “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
She treasured her husband and children and embraced every moment she had with them. She especially loved being a grandmother, “Juju”, to Greyson and Emilia, and was thrilled to learn her role would be expanding yet again with grandbaby #3 on the way. Nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her grands. When Judy was not working or spending time with her family, she loved to travel (especially to her favorite place, the beach!), was an avid lover of all the good foods, loved to read books, sketch, cheer on the Ole Miss Rebels, Hotty Toddy!, and restore their 1838 family home, White Pillars.
Judy is survived by her mother, Margaret Hart; her husband John; children, Will and Ashley (Glenn), and her grandchildren, Greyson & Emilia; Sisters: Cindy Passons (Leland, deceased), Sherry Colhoun (Garrie), Jackie Wilson (Billy Rex); Brother:Joey Hart, plus her many nieces and nephews, and 2 great nieces, all these whom she loved and touched deeply. She is proceeded in death by her father, Jimmie Hart.
There will be a Visitation on Saturday, February 4, from 3:00 until 7:00 pm. A Celebration of her life will follow on Sunday, February 5, at 2:00 pm. Both visitation and funeral will be held at the Holly Springs Funeral Home, with a graveside service to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. Donations in memory of Judy may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 428, Holly Springs, MS 38635.