Obituaries

Surrounded by her family, Judy died peacefully at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, on Sunday, November 26. Judy was born to Charles and Emma Lou (Williams) Osborn of Lebanon, TN. Her family was very active in First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon where Judy sang in the choir and studied voice under the choir director. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1964 and matriculated at Memphis State University where she became a founding member of the new chapter of Delta Gamma sorority.

During her three years at Memphis State, Judy participated in the Presbyterian Church’s outreach projects to underserved minority children and youth in Memphis (’64), Pittsburgh (‘64) and Prince Edward County, VA (’65). At Memphis State, Judy was a member of a racially integrated community of students supervised by the Presbyterian and Methodist campus chaplains. Her early and life-long passion for racial justice was unusual for a southern white female of her generation.

During the Prince Edward County project, Judy met Gene Pearson of Birmingham, Alabama, another volunteer and a rising third year student at the University of Virginia. They were married in Lebanon, TN, on April 22, 1967. Judy and Gene returned to Prince Edward County to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2017.

The couple spent the first two years of married life in Ann Arbor, MI, where Judy worked as a volunteer social worker, and their first daughter, Rachel, was born. Their home for the next three years was the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago. Judy continued her vocal training and began her professional career as a lyric soprano. They joined St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Hyde Park where Judy sang in the professional choir and became the first concert manager of the new “Music of the Baroque” concert series housed there.

Their next move was to Evanston, IL, where Gene began his ministry as a parish priest at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Throughout Gene’s entire career Judy was a warm and gracious clergy spouse. While in Evanston their second daughter, Rebecca, was born. Additionally, Judy joined the Junior League and continued her singing career.

They moved in 1975 to Defiance, OH, where Gene had been called to Grace Episcopal Church, and Judy commuted to Toledo where she worked for two years as Manager of Regional Development for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra followed by a year as the orchestra’s Director of Development. While in Defiance, Judy continued her work with the Junior League of Toledo. Judy was always thankful for the leadership training she received from the League and proud of its good work for the community.

In 1982 they moved to Perrysburg, OH, where Gene became rector of St. Timothys’ Episcopal Church. Over the course of their time in Perrysburg, Judy held a number of professional positions: Director of Public Relations and Director of Development for the Easter Seal Society of Northwest Ohio; Media Relations Coordinator and Physician Recruiter for St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, OH; Account Supervisor at Lauerer Markin Gibbs, in Maumee, OH; Director of Communications and Development for the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross; Manager of Communications and Chapter Relations of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services of the Western Lake Erie Region.

Her volunteer activities included serving a term as the Junior League’s Vice-president for Community Projects and chairing the long- range planning and member training committees; serving on the Board of Directors, the Campaign Cabinet, and as the Campaign Trainer Chair for the United Way of Greater Toledo; serving on the Board of Directors of the Black Swamp Conservancy; and serving as an Ambassador for the Toledo Museum of Art. Many Toledo area residents will remember Judy’s monthly appearances on Channel 11’s “AM Saturday” show as the “Southern Cooking Expert.” In addition to her professional and volunteer work, Judy completed her undergraduate course work at the University of Toledo in 2004.

Judy was well known as an outgoing and charming lady and a wonderful hostess who loved setting a beautiful table. Her survivors include her husband, Gene, her daughter Rachel and Rachel’s partner Sam, her daughter Rebecca, son-in-law Franc, and grandson Jacob.

The visitation with family will be Friday, January 12, from 3-6 pm at Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home in Perrysburg. A memorial service at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Perrysburg, will be held Saturday, January 13, at 10 am.

Contributions in memory of Judy may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Equal Justice Initiative (www.eji.org), or the American Red Cross. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.