Obituary of Herman Oscar Judah

Mr. Herman Oscar Judah, 91, of Ozark, died Sunday, March 11, 2018. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 16, 2018, at Asbury United Methodist Church with Reverend Tara Chamblee and Pastor Greg Doss officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery, Holman Funeral Home and Cremations of Ozark directing. His twelve grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Thursday evening from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P.M. Mr. Judah was born September 25, 1926 in the Mabson Community of Dale County, Alabama to the late James Oscar Judah and Willie Bell Snell Judah. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church and attended Ozark First Assembly of God Church. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and grandfather. He maintained a close and loving relationship with his three siblings and never met a stranger. He loved helping others and serving his community. Mr. Judah worked with the Coca-Cola Company for forty-six years from 1946 until his retirement in 1991. While living in Tuscaloosa for thirteen years, he served as the Assistant Manager and then Manager of Coca-Cola Bottling Company. In addition, he served on the Tuscaloosa County School Board and the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority. Mr. Judah was always a strong supporter of the football team for the University of Alabama and was a recruiter for them from 1958 to 1980 and was named Honorary Assistant Coach by Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in 1981. After retirement and his return to Ozark he served two terms on the Dale County Commission (1996 – 2004) and served with the Dale County Sheriff’s Office for several years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Fannie Rae Grantham Judah; his daughter, Sandra Wilkins; and his son, Herman Oscar “Ozzie” Judah, Jr. Survivors include his children, Carole Taylor and her husband, Jim (Tuscaloosa), Anita Cordell and her husband, Jerry (Ozark), Beverly King and her husband, Wade (Orange Beach), and Richard Judah and his wife Mary Ellen (Huntsville) as well as Ann Judah (Ozzie’s wife). They were blessed with seventeen grandchildren: Knox, Lee, Alan, and Andy McMillan; Mickey, Steve, and Laurie Wilkins; Tony, Paul, and Daniel Cordell; Jason King and Amie Zanaty, and Elizabeth King; LeAnn Judah; and Preston, Grant and Maggie Judah; great-grandchildren: Fuller and Eden McMillan; Anna and Allie McMillan, Mary Stuart, Knox and Sara Elizabeth McMillan; Mathu, Amber, and Allison Wilkins; Nathan and Emily, and Ryan Cordell and Chase Cordell; Brasley, Harper and Lela Zanaty, and Aiden, Taylor, Jensen King, Henry and Miller Wilkes; Sam Judah, Ann Knox, Mary Lee and Rosemary McLendon. In addition he was blessed with five great-great grandchildren: Brayer McMillan; Aiden Spencer Blake, Adrian Judah Blake, Alijah Blake and Aliyah Faye Blake; two sisters, Kathleen Leatherwood and Angela Wynn (Max) Leatherwood; one brother and sister-in-law, Durwood and Joann Judah. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Special thanks to his longtime friend Ricky McLin; his kind neighbors, Mary and Dan Orb; and gratitude to his caregivers, Angel, Thertha, Little Angel and Precious. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the cemetery fund at Asbury Methodist Church, 2536 County Road 33, Ozark, Al 36360.