Judith Lynn Holderman (Mitchell), age 72, of Hermitage, TN, passed away on April 11, 2026. She was born in Florence, Alabama, and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. She graduated from John Adams High School in South Bend in 1972 and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Bethel University in Indiana in 2002.
Judy began her work life at McDonald’s at age 16, where she formed lifelong friendships with Deena Coleman and Andrea Bellair, who became like family to her for over 50 years. She rose through the ranks of management at McDonald’s and attended Hamburger University in 1973. Judy worked for McDonald’s for two decades, and it was there that she met the love of her life and her husband of 47 years, Jack Holderman.
In 1984, Judy left McDonald’s to devote her time to raising their daughter, Melissa. She had a lifelong love of musical theatre and was deeply involved in productions at her church home, Gospel Center in South Bend, where she also served as office manager for a number of years. Judy directed countless dinner theatre performances for the church, while Jack prepared the food and served dinner to the audience. In 1997, she joined the staff at Bethel University, where she cherished her role as secretary in the Drama Department. She also directed the university’s traveling theatre troupe, the Genesians. Her enthusiasm for the arts, dedication to students, and generous spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
Judy left Bethel University in 2004, and shortly after, she and Jack moved to Madison, Wisconsin, for his work. There, she remained active in her church community, leading small groups and volunteering, as well as performing in local community theatre. In 2012, they moved to San Tan Valley, Arizona, to be closer to their daughter and her family, where Judy began working for the Arizona Department of Corrections. In 2022, Judy and Jack, along with Melissa and her family, moved to Hermitage, Tennessee. Once again, Judy found her people at The Donelson Fellowship, where she faithfully participated in a life group.
Judy’s greatest joy was her family and friends. She spent her later years playing Scrabble with her granddaughter Eva, Yahtzee with her grandson Anson, and picking up the youngest two, Jackson and Holden, from school each day. She also cherished the simple, steady rhythms of life with her husband, Jack, especially their weekly movie dates and games of bingo at the senior center. She was deeply encouraged by regular visits to Tennessee from her dear friend Deena and her niece Amy. She cherished trips to Alabama to be with her Shaw Squad family and to honor her parents’ memory on Decoration Day at the family cemetery. Her final years were a gift, living under the same roof as her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, sharing in everyday moments, holidays, and celebrations of all kinds.
She remains deeply loved by her family, and we rest in the knowledge that she is now in the presence of God the Father, in the arms of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Jack Holderman; her beloved daughter, Melissa Van Fleet, and son-in-law, Alex; and her cherished grandchildren, Eva, Anson, Jackson, and Holden. She is also survived by her sister, Deborah (Donnie) Karczewski; her nieces, Amy (Kyle) Good and Laurie Kindley, and their families; her stepchildren, Jilinda (Steven) Dick and her children, Shon and Erin; Jack (Sandy) Holderman and his children, Derreck and Eric; Jeffrey (Venetcia) Holderman and his children, Jonathan and Joshua; and Danielle Myers, all of whom she loved and prayed for daily; as well as her Shaw Squad aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elna Dean Mitchell (Shaw) and Walter Allen Mitchell.
A celebration of her life will be held at The Donelson Fellowship in Donelson, TN, on May 2, with additional gatherings on May 16 in Florence, AL, and in June in South Bend, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or a local organization supporting those affected by Alzheimer’s, in memory of Judy Holderman.
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, age 72, of Hermitage, TN, passed away on April 11, 2026. She was born in Florence, Alabama, and grew up in South Bend, In...){kind=link}