Obituary: Judith 'Judy' Bellamy Brooks

 After a long battle with cancer, Judith “Judy” Bellamy Brooks cruised into the afterlife on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at the age of 73.

Judy was born on May 12, 1941, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to father Frank Brown Bellamy and mother Nell Blanche Gibson. She was raised by her mother “Nellie” and stepfather, Samuel Jones, and grew up in Miami in a small family with her half-brother, Jamie Jones.

Judy married Charles “Chuck” Wayman Brooks on Nov. 21, 1961. They met while working together at a furniture store in Miami, where Judy was an office clerk and Chuck was a furniture maker. They eventually relocated to Ocoee, where Judy began her career in retail as an office manager. There, the couple lived and raised their two daughters Rebecca Piety and Cynthia Cole-Moschler.

Judy was the sole supporter of their family when her husband became disabled while working as a quality-control inspector. It is from their mom that her daughters learned the value of hard work and dedication. Judy had a love for reading, bluegrass and country music, Southern home-cooking, imbibing in the occasional adult beverage, and international travel (especially her exuberant experiences at Carlos’n Charlie’s in Mexico).

When diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2013, Judy kept a positive outlook for an optimistic future to kick cancer’s ass — even throughout countless chemotherapy treatments, scans, hospitalizations and pain. Throughout her journey, Judy was dedicated to her work, family and her will to fight her illness. She remained a brave, strong woman even throughout her final days.

Judy leaves behind her daughters, Cynthia Cole-Moschler (“the bad one”) and husband, Frank, and Rebecca Piety (the “good” one) and her husband, Scott; her half-brother, Jamie Jones; her grandchildren, Staff Sgt. Christopher Cole, U.S. Marine Corps, Jennifer Carter and Jacob Piety; and her great-grandchildren, Gage Carter and Everett Cole.

Judy is preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Chuck” Wayman Brooks.

The family would especially like to thank Dr. Sarah Katta and the staff at Southwest Cancer Center for their excellent treatment, care, and compassion; Eileen and Charlotte from Vitas Healthcare Team for their fast response, special talents and kindness they showed our family; her Rooms To Go work family that constantly gave her their love and support; and Shawn Piety for serving as her caretaker when her daughter, Rebecca and son-in-law, Scott, could not be there.

The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, 1148 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. A service will immediately follow beginning at 1:30 p.m. Private family graveside service will be held later that day. Arrangements entrusted to Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden, collisoncareyhand.com.

The family recommends Judy’s favorite florist, Betty J’s, Ocoee. myorlandoflorist.com, for floral arrangements.