Judith Hill Jones Hamilton passed away peacefully at home on March 20, 2026.

Born May 26, 1939, in Jackson, Miss., to Woodson and Edith “Boggy” (Enochs) Jones, Judy was close with her sister and cousins, enjoyed reading and playing piano, and excelled in school, graduating with honors from Murrah High School. At 16, she met her beloved Pete, falling in love almost right away. They dated long distance for five years, marrying on May 27, 1960.

They moved with Pete’s job to Texas City, Texas, where their three daughters were born, then to Yorktown Heights, N.Y., St Albans, W.Va., Yorktown Heights again, and Ridgefield, Conn. In each community, Judy lovingly cared for her family, working with her daughters’ schools, Girl Scouts, and church youth groups to help them and other children thrive. They retired in 1993 and moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains near Lexington. She continued her volunteer efforts while enjoying the beautiful mountain views from their log home.

Wherever they lived, Judy and Pete became active members of the United Methodist Church. Judy served in every role imaginable, including as church secretary, pastor nominating committee, chairing women’s groups, prayer teams, mission activities, and teaching all ages. She completed the Bethel Bible Study training program, teaching others to lead in-depth study of scripture. Judy and Pete were active participants in Tres Dias Christian retreats for adults from 1978 to 1982 in New York and Emmaus Christian teen retreats from 1988 to 1993 in Connecticut. Since 1993, they have been active members at Trinity UMC in Lexington.

Judy loved painting, sewing, and crafting. She made and sold whimsical walnut strawberries for hunger relief. She enjoyed singing both in church choirs and Song Spinners, a women’s chorus in Ridgefield, and was involved in PEO in Lexington for many years. She hated cats but learned to tolerate dogs and the occasional pet hamster or mouse. She was known for her raspberry Jell-O salad at church meals, strawberry themed 1970s kitchen, jet-black hair (not dyed, really!), and gentle kindness, even when she found her teen daughters’ behavior to be “not cute, or funny.”  She adored being Grammy for her four grandchildren.

Judy is survived by her loving husband Pete, love of her life and best friend, sister Janet Jones of Ridgeland, Miss., daughters Sarah Springer, Susan Peck, and Ginny Hamilton, sons-in-law David Springer and Eugene Goffredo, and grandchildren Jonathan Springer, Joshua Peck, Natalie Springer, and Milo Goffredo. We are grateful for the support of her long-time caregivers Noel, Betty, Kaitlyn, Margaret, Bri, Tonya, Charlene, and Tammy, as well the team from Connections Plus Hospice and Trinity’s pastor, Anita Mays Lucord.

A celebration of her life will be held at Trinity UnitedMethodist Church on Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m. Attendees are asked to honor Judy’s request to wear bright colors, not somber clothing.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to Rockbridge AreaHealth Center, where she volunteered for many years, or to Trinity UMC. 

Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Va.