Judy Austin

Helen “Judy” Martin Austin was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. Born October 22, 1938 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was the oldest daughter of the late Robert Ware and Julia Hoyle Martin. Judy met her husband, Millard Paul Austin, on a date while living in Memphis and working at CIT. They married December 17, 1966 at the Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN. Judy devoted herself to her children and taught her girls to be independent thinkers and self-sufficient.

Judy went back to college in her 40’s and obtained a degree in Business from the University of Memphis. She then reentered the workforce and worked in the insurance business for 20 years until her retirement in 2003. She also obtained the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).

Judy was devoted to her family and extended family and maintained close ties with cousins with whom she grew up. She greatly enjoyed her trips out to California, Oregon, and Lake Tahoe. Judy loved to travel and greatly enjoyed her Alaskan Cruise in 2017. Judy was an avid reader and was an expert on all things cooking, gardening, and cleaning.

Judy leaves behind her brothers, Robert Ware Martin, II, Charles Allen Martin, and sister, Elizabeth Anne Martin, daughters, Paula Sykes, Missy Nesbitt, and Susan Higgins, son-in-law’s Gary Sykes, Sheldon Nesbitt, and Barry Higgins. Judy cherished her six grandchildren: Anna Claire Sykes, Dalton Sykes, Emma Nesbitt, Brittany Nesbitt, Spencer Higgins, and Abigail Higgins and great-grandson, John Gritt man Sykes and several nieces and nephews.

Judy’s full and wonderful life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Shackleford Funeral Home, 450 Church Street, Savannah, TN with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Judy will be buried next to her beloved late husband Paul at the Holland Creek Methodist Cemetery. Memorials may be made to NAMI Tennessee or Alive Hospice.