Judith Marie Wall, 73, passed away peacefully while under hospice care at Navicent Health in Macon, Ga., on June 3 following a long illness.
She was born May 8, 1944, in Battle Creek, Mich., and moved to Hawkinsville, Ga., in 1977. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Elsie Mix, and first husband, Charles Alan Wall. She is survived by husband, Rodney Hall, and son Doug (Angel) Wall and grandson Charles ‘Charlie’ Adams Wall of Hawkinsville; son David (Lori) Myers of Ohio; and daughter Cara Wall Manness; brothers Randy (Stevie) Mix of Va., and Tom (Patty) Mix of N.H.; sister, Martha (Lucio) Morales of Fla.; brother-in-law Rick (Hazel) Hall; sisters-in-law, Rene (Rob) Rubin and Ruth Hall. She is also survived by her mother-in-law Mildred Hall of Mich.
Judy was a huge horse racing enthusiast working in nearly every facet of the harness horse racing industry throughout her life from mucking stalls, managing a racing stable, travelling the Michigan Fair Circuit charting races, working at a breeding farm, and even arranging the shipping schedules for a horse transport company. She was a member of the United States Trotting Association for 45 years, the Middle Georgia Horseman’s Association, and an absolute untiring advocate to bring pari-mutuel harness racing to Georgia, travelling the state on numerous occasions to meet with legislators.
Middle Georgia has a rich harness racing history. The Pulaski County Fair hosted harness racing since 1894, long before the Hawkinsville Training Center opened 95 years ago in the city that bills itself as the Harness Horse Capital of Georgia. For the past 30 years, Judy could be found in the judges’ booth charting qualifying races at the Hawkinsville Harness Training Center and during the Harness Festival. No other place in Georgia would benefit more than Hawkinsville if pari-mutuel racing were permitted, and Judy helped to spearhead the fight.
Not only could Judy be found working around horses at the racetrack, for many years she owned Grooming by Judy Pet Salon, a pet care and dog grooming business in Hawkinsville. She was one of the most popular and most requested dog-sitters in the city, lavishing her love on the four-legged fur babies of friends who were lucky enough to know their beloved pets were in loving hands while they were away.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 6, at Clark Funeral Home, Hawkinsville. Donations may be made to the family, the American Cancer Society, ASPCA or the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Judith Marie Wall.
(USTA)