Judy Pruitt

On Thursday, October 3rd, Judy Pruitt arrived in heaven dancing to Van Morrison and, with a subtle nudge to those who came before her, asked, "Hey, can yall turn that up?"

Judy was born in Hollywood, FL, on May 10, 1957, a daughter of the late Eula Maxine "Mickey" (McLeod) Pruitt and Loyd Nelson Pruitt. She was a member of Inman First Baptist Church.

Judy is survived by her son, Elijah Roberts, wife, Leslie, and two granddaughters, Palmer and Finley, of Roswell, Georgia. Two sisters, Barbara Alexander and husband Donnie, of Boiling Springs, SC; Brenda Fleming, of Boiling Springs, SC; and brother, Ronnie Pruitt, of Gaffney, SC. 

Judy Judy Judy, as she was so affectionately referred to, was a native Floridian, albeit for a short period of her life. Still, she was always quick to remind one if they mistakenly referred to her as being born in South Carolina. While she did not grow up in Florida, she took great pride in being born near Miami. When Loyd and Mickey moved the family to Inman, SC, Judy was young. Her infectious smile and beautiful spirit carried through as a graduate of Chapman High School. Aside from a short stint in Rock Hill, SC to support her ex-husband, Kim, she forever called Spartanburg home.

As the perfect love story of the 1970s goes, Judy met Kim via mutual friends, fell in love, and enjoyed life while creating a family that is ever-present today and fully embodies the best of who they were. For a beautiful period, kindred spirits maximized each other's hearts and souls with peace, love, and rock'n'roll. Sadly, not all remarkable relationships last forever. Thus, she planted roots in the east Spartanburg neighborhood of Idlewood, raised her loving son, and only departed this past Thursday. For better or worse, she is Spartanburg through and through. There was never a place she went where a familiar face was not seen and acknowledged. While she garnered many traits from being the youngest of four siblings, one is that she was always heard. Those on the listening end may have sometimes disagreed with what they heard, but they heard it. She was authentic, true to herself, and never compromised for what she felt was right. Until the last months of her life, while battling the crippling effects of COPD, she lived life. Judy was one of one.

Simply put, she was a character in the most positive sense of the word. Her makeup included every trait you want your mother, daughter, sister, and friend to have; she loved you, cared for you, worried, helped you when she could, and asked for help when she couldn't. Judy was a proud mother and grandmother. In the future, for those who knew and loved Judy for all she was, please share her stories so we can all laugh, love, cry, and keep her memory alive. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.rog or PO Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38101-2151 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.