Judy B. Scherer, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, was called home to be with our Lord and Savior on Friday, June 23, 2017 at her home, surrounded by very immediate and loving family. She had unknowingly, without symptoms, been diagnosed with a rapidly forming and very aggressive cancer that took her life after a 9-month battle.
Judy fought gallantly to beat this cruel and menacing threat every day since diagnosed and is the most courageous, determined and tenacious person her husband, her greatest fan, encourager and the love of his life has ever known. She was also supported by the prayers of hundreds of friends, relatives and many who have never met her.
Judy was an example to many with her love for others, her career life’s experiences as an educator and person of deep faith. Judy came through the ranks of classroom teacher, principal, administrator, deputy superintendent and superintendent of schools through more than 35 years of service with her main focus always on our children, their parental guidance and the many thousands of teachers and staff who served with her. She was always willing and able to “be there” for people and the needs of others. Judy and her husband, John, did everything together and were mostly never far apart from each other every day of their 12.5 years of marriage.
Judy was born on December 18, 1954 as the second of three daughters of six siblings born to Preston Bane Burton and his wife Georgie Clara Hoback Burton. She was raised near Pearisburg, Va., where the family farm was crossed by the Appalachian Trail.
Judy graduated high school in Pearisburg and went on to receive her bachelor of science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University with honors, a master of science degree from East Tennessee State University, her 6-year master degree in educational studies and her doctorate degree in school administration from Georgia State University.
Judy was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, the National and Georgia School Superintendents Association, the Georgia Association of Professional Leaders, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society for Women, appointed by Governor Nathan Deal as a Board member of the Military Children’s Commission, the Georgia Association of Curriculum Supervisors, the Honor Society in Education Award, served on many Boards of Directors and was a very active Chair Person for many charity campaigns including Relay for Life, the Heart Association, March of Dimes, active duty military support campaigns, and many more.
Judy is survived by her loving husband, John W. Scherer II; her son, Joseph P. Robinson (Michelle) of Winter Spring, Fla.; her daughter, Kimberly Hagen (Ryan) of Tallahassee, Fla.; her step-daughter, Stephanie Ignatonis (David) of Chicago; her step-son, Louis Scherer (Taffee) of Burien, Wash.; sister, Frances Breedlove-Croy (Dick) of The Villages, Fla.; sister, Sandy Karickhoff (husband Steve) of Altoona, Iowa; brother, William Burton of Eldridge, Mo.; brother, John Burton (Ramona) of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Madeline, Evelyn, Lorelei, Benjamin, Ashley and Lilly Jordan; and loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded by the passing of her mother and dad and a younger brother, Ernest Burton.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8th, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home with Reverend Chuck Owens officiating.
Her family will receive friends at the funeral home from noon until the hour of the service.
In lieu of flowers, Judy and John have requested consideration in making a donation in her name to: The ARC of Nassau Center for Adult Disabilities, 86051 Hamilton St., Yulee, FL 32097 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Please share her Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
