Judith DeHonney Thompson's Obituary
Judy DeHonney Thompson was born on July 27, 1937, to the late James Monroe DeHonney, Jr. and the late Willa Mae DeHonney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024.
Judy was educated in the public school system and graduated from Westinghouse High School on 6/17/1955. In jest she shared her memory of how she had to celebrate her twin brothers’ birthdays before she could attend her own graduation!
On July 3, 1956 Judy married Albert Roland Thompson “Ronnie” and from this union their only child, Donna Jeanne Thompson was born. Judy later started with the US Postal Service on Memorial Day, 1959. She remembered being among a small group of the first black women hired by the US Postal Service in Pittsburgh, and after working 41 years Judy retired as a supervisor in the year 2000.
Judy loved the Lord and she had a personal relationship with Him. From a young age she attended service at her local church. Services would later be provided at the apartment building where she lived the rest of her life, and she continued to be present during Mass and receive Communion.
Judy enjoyed life and was always on the go. She enjoyed traveling to Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada to visit her daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter. She loved the arts and would frequent the cultural district to attend plays, musicals, operas, ballets and the symphony. In her later years, she greatly enjoyed playing games and cards with her friends. Judy was an avid Bingo player, and would often be seen playing 4 or more boards at a time. In the afternoon and evenings, she could frequently be found relaxing with her word search puzzles, or watching Jeopardy and The Wheel of Fortune. She loved good food and eating out, and her favorite snacks included Butter Snaps pretzels, chocolate candy, and Jello. She also made sure to keep a bottle of Red Hot hot sauce and Kroops Arizona Heat mustard with her at most times. She would say they made anything taste good! Family and friends will treasure her memories everytime they recall receiving a birthday or holiday card from her in the mail, just to make us feel special and loved. Judy will also be remembered lovingly for her strength, quick wit and sass.
Judy was preceded in death by her daughter, Donna Jeanne Thompson, and her twin brothers, James Monroe DeHonney, III and Jan Michael DeHonney. She leaves to cherish her memory her granddaughter Jennifer Green, great granddaughter Jaya Sloan, sister Paula Washington, nieces Dawn (Mechelle) Tomlin, Dana (David) DeHonney Jones, and Janis Alston, and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.
A blessing service will be held on Saturday, August 24th at 12 PM at the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
Condolences may be left at www.jeffersonmemorial.com
What’s your fondest memory of Judith?
What’s a lesson you learned from Judith?
Share a story where Judith's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Judith you’ll never forget.
How did Judith make you smile?