Judith Anne Morton, 80, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away April 10, 2026, peacefully, surrounded by family.
Judy was born in 1946, in Wilmington, to Jean Barnes Morton and William Parker Morton. The youngest of three children, Judy grew up in the Bellefont neighborhood with siblings Ellen and Bill. Judy attended Mount Pleasant High School and received an associates degree from Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington.
Judy worked on staff for U.S. Sen. William V. Roth in Washington, D.C. in the early 1970s. She once told the story of attending an inaugural ball for former President Richard M. Nixon wearing a gown she had sewn herself. Judy returned to Wilmington shortly thereafter and began a career as a legal secretary at Hercules Inc. She worked for Hercules for 31 years as an Executive Administrative Assistant and a Community Relations Specialist. Following her retirement from Hercules, she worked for 12 years as a Development Associate for the non-profit Neighborhood House Inc. in Wilmington, and later advocated for it as a liaison to the United Methodist Church.
Judy’s work at Neighborhood House was particularly meaningful because its mission coincided with her own Christian faith, which was central to her life. She was a long-time member at Aldersgate United Methodist Church where she attended services and served in various ministry capacities.
Judy worked with the youth ministry at Aldersgate for many years, she taught Sunday School, and she participated in youth missions trips. Judy was a member of a long-running small group at Aldersgate that named itself the Crazy Ladies, and she served in numerous leadership roles in United Methodist women.
From 2002 to 2012, Judy served as a member of the United Methodist Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM), the body responsible for evaluating and approving candidates seeking ordination as Elders or Deacons. While she spoke fondly of her time there, those pursuing clergy orders remember with gratitude the nurturing care and encouragement she embodied in that process.
Judy was a devoted aunt and a great aunt to her nephews and their children. She was known to be a tireless cheerleader for her family, often considering her nephews as her own children. She is survived by nephews David Cordrey (Nancy), James Cordrey (Carolyn), Craig Morton (Tiah), and Eric Morton; grand-nephews Andrew, Noah, Elijah, and Luke; grand-nieces Caroline and Ella; great-grand-niece Sloane; and great-grand-nephew Derek. She is preceded in death by parents William Parker Morton and Jean Barnes Morton, and siblings Ellen Morton Cordrey and William Parker Morton, Jr.
Services will be Saturday, May 2 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, with visitation at 11am followed by a service at 12 noon. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Neighborhood House, Inc., Wilmington, Del.
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