Judy W Bassham

Judy Whitworth Bassham, age 76, of Niceville, FL, passed away peacefully at home on December 15, 2017. She was born in Greenville, AL, to Harry and Millage Whitworth.  A sweet, playful, inquisitive girl, bursting with talent, she learned to tap dance and play piano at a young age.  A true beauty inside and out, Judy was Football Bowl Queen and voted most talented her senior year of high school.  Her yearbooks are filled with comments dedicated to “the sweetest girl I know”.

She graduated from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in less than 3 years while working full time as the secretary for the Dean of Students, and later earned two Masters degrees and her Doctorate in Education from the University of Tennessee.  An inspiring and creative teacher, she published works of poetry with her 4th grade students.  She retired after 30 years of teaching and serving as an assistant principal and then worked as an Education Consultant helping teachers and administrators across the country by developing innovative evaluation systems; receiving numerous accolades throughout her successful career.

Judy was an avid reader of Native American history and John Grisham novels and loved listening to music by Johnny Mathis.  She was the granddaughter of a Gulf Coast oyster fisherman and loved watching Shrimp boats passing by her back porch in the afternoons and visiting Ocean Springs, MS, her mother’s childhood and ancestral home.  She met the love of her life while in high school and together they shared a beautiful life of 63 years, raising a family, working hard to help others and loving and supporting each other.  A beautiful, amazing and devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, the sweetest woman in the world, Judy always put others before herself, she radiated warmth and love and encouragement, always expressing kindness and support.  She made everything wonderful and special.  A truly remarkable person who lived life with dignity and grace filled with laughter and love.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, William “Pete” Bassham; and, the joys of her life - sons, Brent and Kevin Bassham and grandchildren, Abby Bassham, Gabe Freeland and Trent Scott.  

Visitation will be from 10-11:00 am on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church, Niceville.  A funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 am with interment to follow in Heritage Gardens Cemetery.

You may send flowers, express condolences to the family and sign the guestbook at www.heritagegardensfuneralhome.com.  Heritage Gardens Funeral Home of Niceville is entrusted with the arrangements.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

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