Portrait of Julia Williamson. IMB Photo

Julia “Judy” Williamson, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Mexico and Costa Rica, died July 1, 2024. She was 93.  

Judy was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Valdosta, Georgia, to the late Luther and Blanche Heaton. She graduated from Brown High School, Atlanta, and received a diploma in Christian training from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  

Judy came to faith in Christ at the age of 9. With her family she attended Capitol View Baptist Church in Atlanta, where she met Guy Williamson. She participated in Training Union, a discipleship program that included Sunday afternoon services held in prisons. In 1947, Judy went to Ridgecrest for Training Union Week and felt God’s call to a life of service.   

On May 30, 1948, Judy and Guy were married. When Guy finished his military service, they attended seminary in New Orleans. While seeking missionary appointment, Judy wrote, “God’s call for me to mission service has come since that call at Ridgecrest (North Carolina conference center] in 1947. The special Missionary Days at the seminary were a call to service.” 

In 1960, the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) appointed Guy and Judy missionaries to Mexico. They served in evangelism, church and home ministry, and hospitality. In 1987, they moved to Costa Rica, where Judy served as the language school coordinator.  

Judy was preceded in death by Guy, her husband of 59 years. 

She is survived by her children, Lynn (Carl Smith), Paul (Isabel Zamudio), and John, and nine grandchildren.  

A funeral service was held July 27 at Flour Creek Christian Church in Butler, Kentucky.  

Read an obituary here.