Judy Y. Smith

Judy Parker was born September 23, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was given up for adoption and was a ward of the state of Missouri. In December 1960, James Roy and Allean Marie Parker adopted her. They always stated she was a Christmas gift, a Child of Yield.

Judy grew up with her brother, Walter Parker, in a loving, Christian household. At around age two or three, her parents began explaining to her yearly that she was their child but was adopted and what adoption meant. As she grew older, she understood she had biological birth parents, but James Roy and Allean Marie were “Daddy and Mama.” Judy accepted Christ early in her life and was raised attending Saint Paul's Presbyterian Church from birth until she married.

She completed her early education in Kansas City, Missouri. First, John J Pershing Elementary, then J. S. Chick Elementary, and then Saint Louis Catholic School for her middle school years. She then attended Bishop Hogan High School, where she graduated in 1978. She also attended George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN, and Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri. Throughout high school, she was very active in school activities and was a cheerleader. She also taught Sunday school to the toddlers at Saint Paul's Presbyterian Church.

Judy grew up working in her parent's business, Parkers Groceries. This laid her foundation for being independent, working hard, earning money, communicating with people, and being in tune with her surrounding instincts. Her parents retired and closed their business in 1978. After Judy graduated around 1979-80, she began working for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where she received the award of student aid employee of the year each year while she was there.

Her parents also had a lake farm in Long Jack, Missouri. Judy was not an outdoor kind of girl, yet many of her fondest memories are weekends and holidays spent at the farm. She and her brother Walter, cousin Dwayne, family and friends rode horses, fished, and ran after cows, all while having to do some kind of chore.

In 1985, Judy married Michael Anthony Smith. Afterward, she moved her church membership to Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ. To the union of Judy and Michael were born three children: Michael Anthony, Ryan James Roy, and Tailor Jewell. All three children were raised at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ.

Judy and Michael opened their own franchise business, “Linwood Goodyear,” in 1986. They worked very, very hard. Several years later, they ended the Goodyear franchise while opening Oneway Automotive Boutique, their own owned and operated business. They later

opened Oneway Automotive Plaza. They remained in business together for 20 years until 2005, when they closed Oneway Automotive Plaza.

In 1993, Judy met her birth mother, Mary Lewis, her husband, Bobby Lewis, her two brothers, Bobby Lewis Jr. and Gary Lewis, and three sisters, Jerry Lewis Bledsoe, Sonya Lewis, and Shana Lewis. Judy, being the oldest, instantly loved them all.

Judy would often say, “Your health is your wealth.” Michael became ill, and later, Judy became ill. Judy received her heart transplant on June 11th, 2006. Judy began working for the Missouri Department of Social Services in October 2008. She fully retired in September 2022.

Judy lived loving her life. She loved dancing, acting, and modeling. She also enjoyed her children playing football, basketball, and track. She referred to them as her soldiers. Every weekend was fun and filled with activities. She also enjoyed seeing her grandchildren grow up and just watching and listening to their conversations and then laughing. She loved color, events, and designing things with her hands. She often said, “I can make anything.” Judy served on the Welcoming Committee, Usher Board, and Praise Dance ministries at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ. Judy loved setting up and designing for events with friends, making jewelry, and creating fashion. She would say, “If it's simple, I don't want it; I need to see it. It don't have no enuff”, her word!

Preceding her in death are her parents, James Roy and Allean Marie Parker; her husband, Michael Smith, on November 20, 2012, and grandson, Roy Anthony Smith, on April 27, 2022.

Judy leaves to cherish her memory three children, Michael Smith, Ryan Smith, and Tailor Smith; four grandchildren, Soraya Gordon, Mykel Smith, Ryan Smith Jr., and Ahleaha Smith; three brothers, Walter Parker (Gwendolyn, Atlanta, GA), Bobby Lewis, Jr. (St. Louis, MO), Gary Lewis (Kansas City, MO); three sisters, Terri Lewis-Bledsoe (Chicago, IL), Sonya Lewis and Shana Lewis (St. Louis, MO) and a host of family, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many unique friends.