Judith Pierce Croxton

Judith Pierce “Judi” Croxton, age 79, of Seven Oaks Farm, Kershaw, South Carolina, passed away on Monday morning June 23, 2025, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Acworth, Georgia.

Born on June 2, 1946, in Mobile, Alabama, Judi was the daughter of the late Ralph Bailey Pierce, Sr. and Marjorie Gabriella McKeough Pierce. She attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, where she earned a degree in physical education and was honored with the title of Miss Huntingdon College. A spirited and active student, Judi was a cheerleader all four years for the college basketball team. She also competed in the Alabama Junior Miss pageant and the Alabama Miss Universe pageant, where she was honored with the title of Miss Congeniality.

During her senior year, Judi met Roy Croxton on a blind date. The two were married on August 10, 1968, in Saraland, Alabama. Their early years together were marked by frequent moves driven by Roy’s military service. They first settled in Warner Robins, Georgia, where Judi taught physical education at Tabor Junior High. Roy received military orders that uprooted them from living in the United States to Taiwan, followed by orders to Oscoda, Michigan; Shreveport, Louisiana; Grissom, Indiana; and eventually returning to Warner Robins, Georgia following Roy’s retirement. They eventually moved back to Kershaw, South Carolina where they resided at Roy’s multi-generational family farm, Seven Oaks Farm. Throughout these transitions, Judi embraced the responsibilities of an officer’s wife with grace and adaptability. She was a pillar of strength as she advocated for military spouses, championing efforts to allow them the opportunity to work while their husbands were serving on active duty. As a result of her unwavering advocacy, official recognition and government support was provided through the Spouse Preference Act which provides preference to military spouses when applying for certain Defense Department positions.

Judi had a love for community theater and took great joy in performing. She once played the role of Katrin Sveg in The Marriage-Go-Round at the Warner Robins Civic Auditorium during the 1978–1979 season. She also enjoyed writing for her neighborhood newsletter, cross-stitching, playing the occasional round of golf, and working in her garden. Judi was a proud fan of the Atlanta Braves and a devoted supporter of Clemson football as Roy was an alumnus of the University—she and Roy attended many games over the years.

A talented cook and avid gardener, Judi enjoyed preparing meals with vegetables grown from her garden and took pride in both her floral and vegetable beds.

Later in her career, Judi held the highest-ranking civil service role in procurement as a GS-16 at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. Her leadership and excellence were recognized nationally when she received the prestigious 2010 Gold Star Award from the 20th Contracting Squadron in Washington, D.C. She also served as an adjunct professor at Webster University’s Shaw Air Force Base satellite campus where she taught Procurement and Acquisition Management.

Although she will be remembered for all her amazing professional accomplishments, those are not what truly defined Judi Croxton. The personal relationships that she built with others was profound. She was the epitome of love and care to everyone she encountered, and she loved her family to the core of who she was. She was more than just a mother; she was the heart of her family. Her love was a constant, gentle force that guided, supported, and made her children feel safe. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel seen and cherished, and her home was always filled with warmth and laughter. Her legacy will continue to live on in the remarkable children that she raised and was deeply proud of. In addition to being an outstanding mother, Judi was also a devoted daughter, sister, wife, aunt, grandmother, and friend. Her legacy of love, generosity, and grace will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

The family will receive friends on Saturday evening, June 28, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Baker Funeral Home, 210 E. Hilton Street, Kershaw, South Carolina. A funeral service will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Kershaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Tom Ored and Mike Volpe officiating. The burial will follow at Seven Oaks Farm, Roy and Judi’s beloved home. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kershaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 201 North Cleveland Street, Kershaw, South Carolina or Tunnel to Towers at dogood.t@t.org

Pallbearers will be her grandson, Jonathan Croxton; nephews: Martin Pierce, Bo Pierce, Sam Langshaw, Cole Langshaw, Rodge Estridge, Roy Estridge, and Spencer Hage. Honorary pallbearers will be Mitch Williams and Scott Croxton.

She is survived by her husband, Col. Roy Dendy Croxton, Jr., USAF (Ret.); sons: Roy Dendy Croxton III (Cara), Jonathan McKeough Croxton (Julie), and Benjamin Gabriel Croxton (Paige); her brother, Ralph Bailey Pierce, Jr.; and her sister, Deborah Pierce Langshaw. She was a proud grandmother to eleven grandchildren: Jonathan C. Croxton, Avery Croxton, Ava Croxton, Gideon Croxton, James Croxton, Raina Croxton, Aaron Croxton, Major Croxton, Madison Wood, Abigail Wood, and Carter Croxton. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Gloria C. Estridge. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Roy Dendy Croxon, Sr. and Marie Meetze Croxton; two sisters-in-law, Susann F. Pierce and Rose Marie C. Baker and 2 brothers-in-law, Rev. Roger M. Estridge and Thomas E. “Gene” Baker.

Arrangements are under the care of Baker Funeral Home, Kershaw, South Carolina