Judi Elizabeth Porter

Judi Elizabeth Porter, 71, of Selma, Alabama died peacefully surrounded by family on March 11, 2023, after a brief illness.  Judi was the daughter of Arthur Cleveland Porter, Sr. and Madeline VanSandt Porter of Selma. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister, Madeleine (Patti) Porter Barlow of McKenzie, AL and her sister-in-law, Gail Hamilton Porter of Farragut, TN.

The youngest of four children, Judi was baptized at Alabama Avenue Presbyterian Church and professed her faith at an early age at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, Selma. Judi was educated in the Selma Public Schools, culminating in her graduation in 1970 from Albert G. Parrish High School. Beginning in 1989, she served as a loyal and dedicated employee for the City of Selma and retired in 2018 in the capacity of Human Resources Administrative Assistant. 

As a youth, Judi loved music and was lovingly referred to by her siblings as their “transistor sister”. As a young girl, she loved spending her summers in her family’s Mentone cabin and attending Camp Grist as a camper and then a counselor. Judi’s love for long outdoor walks was nurtured in those places and continued until before her death. She began classical ballet lessons at an early age under the direction of the late Carmell Harrell (Royal Academy of Dance) where she would continue to study and later become an Assistant instructor. Her love for ballet and beautiful music would become a lifelong passion. Judi was known for her great laugh, “candy drawer”, die-hard love for all things “Auburn” and took great pleasure in making a big pot of soup or spaghetti to share; but most of all, she will always be remembered for her big heart, love for her family, devotion to her many friends she considered family, and her abiding passion for all her many fur babies. 

Surviving her are her brothers, Arthur Cleveland (Cleve) Porter, Jr, Farragut, TN, and William (Bill) Charles Porter, Sr. (Karen), Auburn, AL.  Judi was the proud aunt of nephews, Sheridan Brian Earnest (Jennifer), Andalusia, AL. William (Bill) Charles Porter, Jr., Enterprise, AL, Bradley (Brad) Cleveland Porter, Knoxville, TN, Christopher Steven (Steve) Porter (Cynthia), Auburn, AL, and Jon Weston (Wes) Porter, Auburn, AL; nieces, Heather Michelle Porter McCleary (Matthew), Knoxville, TN, Ashley Low Earnest Brock (Jeffrey), Evergreen, AL, and Catherine Jamisha (Jami) Barlow Sikes (David), Greenville, AL; great-nephews, Hunter Blake Earnest (Caroline), Birmingham, AL, Taylor James Earnest, Prattville, AL, William Charles Brock II, Dallas, TX,  Carter Speight Porter and Steven Marshall Porter, Auburn, AL, and David Bowden Sikes, Greenville, AL; great-nieces, Reagan Wild Hanks (Hunter), Tuscaloosa, AL, Mary Trainham Brock, Evergreen, AL, Margaret Frances McCleary and Katherine Dorothy McCleary, Knoxville, TN, Madeline Grace Sikes, Greenville, AL, and her “grands”, David Douglas Harris, Jr., Mobile, AL and Kimberly Grace Harris, Robertsdale, AL. 
The family wishes to thank Judi’s special friends, for their love and stead-fast care for her well-being, particularly Warren Hinson, Heather Lynn Sandell, Pauline Williams, and the staff of Druid City Hospital, and Bethany House, Auburn.

Visitation with the family of Judi Elizabeth Porter begins at Noon on Thursday, March 16, 2023, with a service of Thanksgiving beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home, 2900 Citizens Parkway, Selma, AL. A private graveside service for the family will be at the New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma. 

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made either to Selma Animal Shelter Adoptable Cats-Selma’s Purrrfect Pals, Sky Hill Animal Society, Wannabe Rescued, or to your favorite humane shelter.