Judy Ann Cates Honeycutt, 68, of Hampton, beloved wife of Gilbert Honeycutt, entered into Heaven’s portals on September 24, 2015 after a long illness. A lifelong resident of Hampton, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late William and Zemma Gouge Cates. She had endured almost 40 years of medical problems including surviving five open heart surgeries and breast cancer. Nonetheless, she was a fighter who was determined to live her life to the fullest.
She taught school at Midway, Cloudland and Hampton Elementary for 23 years before being directed to retire by her doctors.
Judy was a member of Little Doe Freewill Baptist Church where she was the pianist for 25 years before joining the First Baptist Church of Elizabethton in 2001. She loved attending her Sunday school class, The Messengers, and singing in the Sanctuary and Senior Choirs.
Judy took great pleasure in gardening and tending to her flowers. She enjoyed traveling and had visited Mexico, Canada, and many states. She especially delighted in a recent family trip to Hawaii. Judy and Gilbert served as information desk volunteers for Mountain States hospital for several years making many friends.
Her greatest joy was her family and she adored spending time with them, whether hosting a large holiday party, going out to eat or simply talking on the phone.
Those left to cherish her memory, in addition to her husband of 46 years, include her children, daughter, Nancy Carol Honeycutt, Los Angeles, Calif., and son, Mark Edward Honeycutt and wife Kara, Jonesborough. She also is survived by her grandchildren, the pride of her life, Karly Rae-Ann Honeycutt and Hudson Mark Honeycutt. Her siblings include one brother, William Cates Jr. and wife Sally, Atlanta, Ga., and three sisters, Thelma Jaynes, Hampton, Doris and Garland James, Unicoi, and Linda Joy and Ben Williams, Elizabethton. She is also survived by a special sister-in-law, Priscilla Rouse and her husband Robert, Bristol, Tenn., and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express thanks to all those who helped during Judy’s extended illness including Dr. Rachel Monderer, and the staff of Johnson City Medical Center and Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital.
A service to honor and celebrate the life of Judy Ann Cates Honeycutt will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, September 26, at Tetrick’s Riverside Chapel in Elizabethton. Rev. Brent Seals and Rev. Bob Polk will officiate. The eulogy will be given by her husband, Gilbert. The family will receive friends from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday. Interment will be at Happy Valley Memorial Park on Monday, September 27, at 11:30 a.m. Active pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Ben R. Williams, and nephews, Jack Jaynes, Michael James, Kent Burdick, Stephen Slagle and Ben A. Williams. Honorary pallbearers will include all her dear friends and members of the Messengers Sunday School Class. Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Honeycutt family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.