FAITH: Judy Dorris—trusting God, doing good, living with faithfulness

Once or maybe twice in life, God causes your path to cross with people who end up being dear, life-long friends.  It’s unexplainable, but you look back and realize that God himself gave you a deep supernatural love which can only be described as a unique and tremendously gracious gift.  If you have ever experienced this, you know what I’m talking about.

Words are inadequate to describe the love my wife and I had for Judy Dorris, and the profound grief we feel at her passing last week.

It all started when they brought their daughter to college over 25 years ago.  Later that week, Judy and her husband, Bruce saw us at a local store and introduced themselves to us.  I don’t remember the precise way it unfolded, but from then on, we became fast friends.

A few months later, I went to be the interim pastor at their church, and our friendship grew and deepened even more.  We went on vacation to Florida together.  There was lots of cookie dough and many Krispy Kreme Donuts.  Throughout the years, we’ve cried together and shared many laughs.  Some of the deepest belly laughs we’ve had were with Judy and Bruce.  I remember times when we laughed so hard our faces hurt.

If there ever was a person who put others first, it was Judy Dorris.  She was one of the kindest, sweetest, most practical, and most giving people I have ever known.  Not only have we personally lost a loved friend, the Jackson community has lost a real treasure.  Judy and Bruce made my wife and me feel so special.  And the way they made us feel is the way they made others feel.  So many could share the same thing.

Before retirement, Judy taught English to hundreds of students at South Side High School.  I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve met who lit up when they found out that I knew Mrs. Dorris.  She was the epitome of a great teacher, and students loved her.

She loved welcoming people and making them feel loved.  Calvary Baptist Church will have a hard time filling her shoes in the Greeting Ministry.  (Who will they find who will bring a leaf blower to church to make sure no leaves are on the pavement at the entrance?)

She was a regular volunteer at Birth Choice, always thinking of others and caring for women who found themselves struggling with an unwanted pregnancy.  The fact that she volunteered in that way speaks volumes about her heart to care for others.

More than anything, her greatest earthly joy was her family.  She and Bruce were the best of friends—a beautiful picture of a godly marriage.  She was a great mom to Sara, and she adored those three grandchildren: Case, Ira, and Virginia.

When Judy started getting sick and went into the hospital, Bruce and his family said that regardless of how things developed, they wanted God to get the glory.  Well, Judy is now with Jesus in Heaven, and the whole process which led to her passing was just like the life she lived.  It indeed pointed to God.

In Psalm 37:3, David said “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Psalm 37:3   Judy loved words.  (Who would expect any less from an English teacher?)  But when it came to her relationship with God, she didn’t use a lot of words.  She went about her days trusting God, doing good, and living her life with faithfulness.

Todd E. Brady serves as Staff Chaplain and Advanced Funeral Planner at Arrington Funeral Directors.  He and his wife, Amy, have five sons.  You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net.