03/15/2026
Judy Marlene Chapman
Judy Marlene (Jones) Chapman
Judy Chapman, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother met her loved ones in Heaven on March 14, 2026, surrounded by her earthly family. Her family meant the world to her and she spent her 80 years dedicated to them.
She was born on August 22, 1945, in Huntington, WV to the late Garnie E. Jones and Nannie A. (Carey) Jones, being their fourth daughter. Her three older sisters, Alice Jones Thomas, Dorothy Lee Jones Magee, and Naomi Jones Morris predeceased her. She was privileged to know her grandfather, John H. Carey, who was born in 1873 (during Reconstruction) and lived to be 98!
She attended Harveytown Elementary School, West Junior High School, Huntington High School (Class of ’63), and Huntington Junior Business College. She made many friends along the way and continued to enjoy their friendship throughout her life.
As a young child and youth, she attended Southside E.U.B. Church in Harveytown, attending Sunday School and Youth Group every week. Judy was baptized when she was a teenager on a freezing January Sunday in Twelve Pole Creek in Spring Valley, Wayne County. The preacher used a large branch to break the ice; she said she never felt the cold!
In 1964 she married the late Gene E. Chapman from Ashland, KY, and they became the proud parents of three sons: Garnie Edwin, Carry Todd, and Shawn Tate. She loved being the grandmother of seven grandchildren: Marlene, Crystal, Alex, Zac, Sarah, Gale, and Andrew. The family continued to grow with her nine great-grandchildren: Jayden, Kansas, Jakob, Billy (passed), C**t, Lilly, Damian, Orian, and Willow. Only three months ago, Zaharia Patience made her a GREAT-GREAT-grandmother. “Mama” enjoyed spending time with and caring for her family members. She also had many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who played special places in her life. When Judy was around, a good time was had by all!
In addition to being a homemaker, she helped at her children’s school with holiday parties and the PTA. During her life, she worked outside the home in other positions. She cared for the elderly, managed the Downtown Movie Theaters for many years, served as secretary/treasurer of the IATSE Union, and retired from St. Mary’s Medical Center Food Service Department.
Birds, especially hummingbirds, were special to her, and she could watch them for hours at a time. She liked most animals, both live and stuffed, with elephants and roosters at the top of the list. “Cheech,” her doggie, will miss her very much.
She had a love for traveling and was always ready for the next adventure. She liked to cook, fish, and camp. She had a passion for all things “Elvis” and savored her visit to Graceland.
Judy showed a joyous spirit and always carried a smile on her face. She tried to find the humor in everything—even the most difficult situations. She had a “heart of gold” and compassion for everyone she met.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 20 at 1:00 P.M. at the Reger Funeral Home Chapel, with public visitation beginning at noon. In lieu of flowers, consider donating in Judy’s memory to Hospice of Huntington, PO Box 464, Huntington, WV 25709.
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