Judy Akins

Judy Hart Akins passed away peacefully March 17, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at her bedside and was greeted in heaven by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Born October 28, 1945, in Hicksville, Ohio, she was the daughter of Charles and Marjorie Hart. After her father’s return from WWII, the family relocated to Park Ridge, IL, her mother’s hometown in the Chicago suburbs, while her father continued his career out of Washington D.C. After his retirement from service, the family moved to Lauderdale-By-The Sea, FL in 1956. When school let out each summer, Judy would return to Park Ridge to stay with her grandmother. She had many fond memories of this time spent with her. Judy was a middle child. While her older brother John was academically inclined and her younger brother Robert adventurous, Judy had all the friends.

After graduating from Pompano Beach High School, in 1963, she held jobs at the high-end stores of the day on Las Olas Boulevard. She also worked as a bank teller, developing her lifelong skill of meticulous bookkeeping. On a whim, and seeking adventure, she joined the airlines in the mid 1960’s flying the world among the rich and famous as a stewardess with TWA, spending time in Kansas City, Marina Del Rey and Germany.

Making her way back to South Florida in the early 70’s, she took a job at the office of Dr. Ernest William Akins, whom she married in 1976. She then dedicated her life to raising her 2 children. She was the best mom one could ever ask for. She was an active member of Christ Church United Methodist and a library volunteer at the Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. She loved spending the summers in the mountains of North Carolina with her growing children. She had a passion for quilting and cross-stitching and remained active in the local guild to this day.

After seeing her kids off to college, she went back to work at her husband’s medical practice at Holy Cross Hospital, managing the office through his retirement in 2006. After his death in 2015, she followed in her loving mother’s footsteps, and relocated to John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. It was there that she met Don Lampe, with whom she revived her passion for travel and adventure. In 2018, she became a grandmother and from then on, her three grandchildren became her entire world. Her greatest love and joy was her family and we were blessed to have had her.

She is survived by her son Steven (Lauren) and daughter Alissa (Pedro); Stepson’s Bill (Sandy) and Scott and brother Robert (Barbara). Brother John and both parents pre-deceased Judy.

Judy was “Deedee” to her three grandchildren, Ethan (6), James (3) and Camila (2).

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 26th from 10AM -11AM with a funeral service at 11AM at Baird-Case Funeral Home 4343 North Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Burial will follow at 1 PM at Evergreen Cemetery 1300 SE 10th Ave Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

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