Judith Berger Obituary

Judith "Judy" Lawton Berger
A Life Well Lived
Judith "Judy" Lawton Berger, an amazing and loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on November 14, 2024, after a life well lived. She was dedicated to her husband, Allen, for over 64 years and she would happily tell you that her profession was being a mom and show you her #1 MOM necklace. She was an amazing mom who raised four successful sons: Craig married to Nancy, Scott married to Patti, Kevin, and Dewayne married to Nikki. She was also known as Mom Berger to others that were welcomed into the home for the day or several months. Judy was blessed with 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild: Alex, Megan, Julia, Tyler, Taylor, Nick, Samantha, Haille, Jacob, Elisabeth, Cooper, and Brady. She lived to love on them and hear about what they were doing.
Judy was bold in life. She crossed into Georgia from her birthplace and home of Saint Augustine, Florida to get married at the age of 20. Shortly after, her and Allen packed their things into a station wagon and moved to California, but that only lasted a few weeks. Judy and Allen settled in Las Vegas for the next seven years, where she had Craig, Scott, and Kevin. Everyday Allen boarded a bus for an hour-long ride to his job. She was alone for the day to care for the boys. Judy and Allen then moved to Gaithersburg, MD for the next seven years, having Dewayne. Allen's job took him away from home for days and sometime weeks at a time. She handled four young boys skillfully, handing out love and providing discipline as needed. Judy and Allen then moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the next 23 years, leading the four young boys into manhood readily to succeed in life. In raising the boys, she served too many times to count, as a room mother, a team mom, a Cub Scout den mother, on the Parent Teacher Association, etc. You could find her running the concession stand at one of boy's games or being the official score keeper at a baseball game. You could hear her holler across the field with praise or instructions to "straighten up". Judy was a busy and happy mom.
Judy and Allen retired to Sevierville, TN, in 1997 building a home on the mountain. She and Allen traveled the country in a motorcoach, logging 450,000 miles including two road trips to Alaska. She was an active member of the Foretravel motorcoach club, helping to organize and contribute to their events. For many years, Judy was an active member of the local quilting guild, providing quilts to raise funds for Sevier County children and organizing and participating in the annual quilting show. She was also skilled at making clothes, knitting, decorating cakes, and making the best chocolate chip cookies!
She will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Ruth Lawton and her sister, Beth Schmermund.
Funeral service will be held 11AM Tuesday at Craig Funeral Home, burial will follow at Evergreen cemetery.