June 18, 1946  –  August 26, 2024

Tupelo-One of Tupelo’s legendary dance instructors, “Miss” Judy Ready has removed her tiny dancing shoes for the last time and is engaged in “The Dance” in the Heavens. Judy Ready, after a brief period of declining health, died at the Hospice Unit at North Miss. Medical Center on Monday evening, August 26, 2024. She was 78 years young. Born on June 18, 1946 in Memphis, Tn. to the late Edward Elwyn Phillips and Arlyne Elizabeth Nolen Phillips, she grew up there and graduated from Southside High School and studied dance at Miss. Delta Junior College in Moorhead, Ms. She worked teaching dance, gymnastics and baton for the Tupelo Park and Recreation Department and, with the encouragement of her beloved associate instructor, Shirley Harwood, opened what eventually became Judy Ready Dance Studio. From there, she became a “petit dancer with tiny shoes” and her love of teaching dance, loving her students and securing a warm, mentoring role in their lives literally made her a Tupelo legend.

Judy had a sterling personality, a beautiful smile and a heart bigger than life itself. She gave her all to her many students over the years, bathed them in her ‘motherly” persona and changed their lives for the better. She was often called “Mama Two” by many of them. In the 1990’s, Judy was named one of Mississippi’s Top Business Woman. For many years, she and Shirley held the rights of the Miss American contests in Northeast Miss. Known for the most current, snazzy tennis shoes she loved to wear, Judy was an avid conversationalist, just plain funny and absolutely never met a stranger.

Judy married the love of her life, James Ready on April 12, 1975, a marriage of 44 years until his death on November 17, 2019. Judy had an amazing faith that provided the strength to endure the loss of her parents, her husband, 2 sons, 2 grandchildren, her sister and a son in law. Family was everything to her and her capacity to handle death so positively made her a virtuous woman of extraordinary strength and compassion. A longtime member of West Jackson St. Baptist Church, she actively participated in their Christmas plays often choreographing the dances and gymnastics. Judy will live forever in our hearts!

A service celebrating her life will be held at 5 PM Thursday, August 29, 2024 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with her “favorite” Undertaker, Steve Holland, speaking and others expressing their gratitude for her earthly pilgrimage. A private burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 PM-service time on Thursday only. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at 5 PM and will be archived thereafter.

Judy is survived by her son, Jamey Ready and his wife, Bobbie of Tupelo; her grandchildren, Candice, Jay and Andrea; a special niece, Courtney Sutton (Alan) and her family and her longtime dance partner, Shirley Harwood and a large host of generational dance students who revered her presence in their lives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James; her son, George Ross, Jr.; daughter, Denise Stephens and her husband, Trannie; her grandsons, Corbyn Maddox , Jared Stephens and Bubba Davis, and her sister, Sandra Eldridge.

The family suggests memorial donations be made in Judy’s name to Traceway Manor Sunday Fund, 2800 West Main St., Tupelo, MS. 38801 to express gratitude for their love of Judy in her last years of being a resident there. Condolences may be posted on her obituary page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.