Judy Faye Davis Jones of Appomattox, Virginia won her last battle and ultimately her 1 year and 9 month war with cancer on Monday December 14 at 3:25 p.m. at her home in Appomattox surrounded by the platinum care and love of her husband and three daughters. More than a conqueror indeed through her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Judy was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on June 13, 1957 to Clayton Davis (a pastor), and Dora Carter. She was a proud graduate of E.C. Glass High School class of 1975, earned a degree in accounting from CVCC in 1978, and became a licensed real estate agent in 2000 when she determined the completion of her ultimate assignment of “training up” her children was at hand as Faith, Leigh-Ann, and Sommer were about to complete high school.

Judy’s work career included J.C. Penney's, Virginia Baptist Hospital, and B & W while in high school. After high school, Judy worked at Central Virginia Training School doing administrative work. After marriage and children, she decided her full time job would be “raising up” her children.

I met Judy in 1963 in Mrs. Moore’s first grade class at Robert S. Payne Elementary School. I was smitten, and it was love at first sight in the first grade! I clearly remember giving her my first “do you like me...yes or no note” in the second grade and having her check NO. To this very day, she maintains that she has no recollection of the trauma inflicted upon me by her rejection of my application to have this beautiful, golden brown girl with two long ponytails become my girlfriend. She couldn’t remember, but I couldn’t forget being the 7 year old with a broken heart.

By third grade, Judy had transferred to a new school. My next opportunity to make her mine was at Dunbar Junior High School where we were both 7th graders. Although I used a different approach with a much more sophisticated letter, the end result was still NO! I was told by some curious and amused onlookers that my letter had been torn up and left outside on the ground during lunch recess. Sadly, my heart was in the same condition as my letter. Over the years, when I related my story of rejection and heartbreak to my students at Appomattox County High School, they always showed me their former broken hearted teacher so much love and compassion.

Oh the sweet sound of my classroom being filled with “oohs” and “ahhs” and exclamations of, “That’s so sad Mr. Jones!” Then I told them I had one more thing to share about my sad story. I revealed that the same little first grade beauty and I had been (at the time) married for 30 years. My entire class would always erupt with cheers, smiles, and laughter. On December 13, 2020, Judy and I were able to celebrate our 40 year anniversary before she transitioned to be with the Lord.

Judy’s number one priority in life was to “raise up” her children to know, love, and serve God. She also encouraged them to value and pursue their education. Faith is a graduate of George Mason University and is now a professional photographer, graphic designer, communication specialist, teacher, and entrepreneur. Her annual Hill City Handmade event in Lynchburg has become a regional Christmas Classic and special fundraising event for her mother’s beloved Jesus Center After School Program. The donations raised from this event throughout the years has created a long lasting tribute to her mother’s legacy of being a champion for at-promise youth and their families.

Leigh-Ann is a proud Triple Hoo, having earned three degrees from the University of Virginia. She earned a B.S. in Kinesiology, a medical degree, and an MBA from the Darden School of Business. She is currently an Emergency Medicine physician, assistant professor in the medical school, author, and consultant. She is married to Dr. Cameron Webb and is the mother of Lennox and Avery. Mom has always admired Cameron as her son-in-love.

When he became a White House Fellow during the Obama administration, it was quite the honor for him to give her a special VIP tour of the White House’s West Wing which included an up close and personal view of the Oval Office. She reflected on the historical significance of being in such close proximity to where the first African-American President executed his duties as a leader of the free world. Then in 2019, when Judy’s chemotherapy treatment prevented her from being escorted down the “Lawn” to the speakers’ VIP section to hear Cameron deliver the graduation commencement at the University of Virginia, she reflected on how it was still one of our proudest moments for the Jones and Webb families. Finally, Judy appreciated and admired Cameron's recent willingness to sacrifice a lucrative career as a physician and lawyer to help make America a “more perfect” union by running for Congress to champion equity and equality for all. She was even more in awe that Leigh-Ann, the daughter she had “raised up” was also willing to make such a sacrifice to “raise up” the “least among us" and advocate for our communities. At the end of the race, Judy was proud that she could call him her son-in-law, and joined together with thousands of others in the 5th Virginia Congressional District and across the United States that anxiously await God’s “next thing” for him.

Sommer graduated from Longwood University and has become a “teacher of teachers,” and a gifted and anointed musician. She currently serves as an Innovation Coach for a Virginia school division. Judy truly accomplished what she set out to do in “raising up” her children!

Early on in our marriage, Judy determined that our income was insufficient, and we would need more financial stability, especially if “training up” our children would be her only job. She decided to become an entrepreneur and start a cleaning business that would better support our family. Despite knocking on business doors and receiving one rejection after another, God provided us with our very first business contract with State-Wide Realty and A+J Cleaning and Lawn Care was born! In spite of our “day of small beginnings” providing us little more than gas money for the drive, Judy’s faith and perseverance had placed us on the road that eventually moved us from below the poverty line to the middle class. She handled the “paperwork” and I did the “work” while completing my degree at Lynchburg College.

Judy continued to try innovative approaches that would bring more financial freedom to our family throughout the years. She even became a general contractor, and built the Jones’ first two substantial homes. When she prepared her first home to go on the market, someone who happened to observe her immaculate preparation, questioned why she would ever sell her house when it looked so brand new. She built our second and present home in Hunting Ridge, which had the reputation of being Appomattox’ best kept secret, while also bringing some well needed diversity to the neighborhood.

When I first started the Jesus Center of Refuge and Hope Church in Appomattox on Sunday April 5, 1980, Judy and I were still single but prayer partners who became a pastor team when we married 8 months later on December 13, 1980.

As a pastor’s wife, Judy was very uncomfortable with and never used the term “first lady” to describe her role. In fact, to call her the “first lady” as defined by some (a title of church hierarchy with a side show of pomp and circumstances to be acknowledged by all) is a gross understatement.

If anything, Judy was a “last lady” who was first to arrive for the work and the last to leave after the work was completed. Whether her service was just worship to God, navigating the demands that come from having a small church with very limited resources, or her relentless pursuit of excellence in ministry and outreach, Judy truly transcended the term “first lady” without ever being called “first lady.”

Her definition of “first lady”included but was not limited to a variety of critical administrative roles for the Jesus Center Church, Mission Empowerment, and the ministry she was so passionate about; our after-school program. Judy also found great joy in taking on more behind the scenes roles such as after school tutor, cook, janitor, bus cleaner, and maintenance woman and painter at our Family Life Center.

During the summer youth camps, she made sure the 10-20 students who showed up with no lunch knew that “Sis. Judy” would pack them a hardy meal and ensure that they were all well fed. Even when transportation became challenging, she stepped in as a faithful and committed transporter of some of the 45-60 kids she served 4 days a week. At one point, it was all that I could do to keep her from acquiring her CDL license when the challenge of finding a bus driver threatened to temporarily terminate our after-school program and summer camps.

For many years, Judy also directed the youth choir, taught Sunday school, led the women’s ministry, facilitated financial seminars, and provided wise counsel to countless people along her 40 year journey as a pastor’s wife. She truly redefined what it means to be “first lady” and the fruit of her ministry will continue to impact our community for generations to come.

Judy or “JuJu” as she was fondly called by her grandchildren, also shared a beautiful bond and a deep love for Avery and Lennox. She always went the extra mile to stay connected with them, becoming a “frequent flyer” to Chicago and New York, and places all over the US to have hands-on interaction with her grandchildren despite the distance. Constantly being in flight was a tough job, but she said, “Here am I, send me!” The beautiful prayers, wisdom, love, encouragement, and fond memories JuJu has poured into Avery and Lennox will forever hold a special place in their hearts.

Judy was predeceased by a now known miscarried first child, and her father, Elder Clayton Davis, whom she was so excited to see again. She is survived by her mother, Dora Carter Davis of Lynchburg, Va.; Loving husband of 40 years, Pastor Emeritus Alfred L. Jones III of Appomattox, Va. Three daughters she “raised up.” Faith Jones of Appomattox, Va., Dr. Leigh-Ann Webb MD (Dr. Cameron Webb MD) of Charlottesville Va., and Sommer Jones of Petersburg, Va. Her dearly loved grandchildren, Lennox and Avery Webb who brought their JuJu extraordinary joy! Her siblings Filmore Davis (Lillian), of San Antonio, Texas; Langhorne Davis of Lynchburg, Va.; Sherman Davis of Norfolk, Va.; Landas Davis (Robin), and her one and only sister she cherished, Ruth Davis (Garry) of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Judy was ALWAYS going to get her Miracle or get her Miracle!

Receive her Healing or receive her Healing!

Get her Deliverance or get her Deliverance!

Win or Win!