Judy Young

Merri Judith “Judy” Young, 61 of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025. Judy bravely fought pancreatic cancer for 2 years and 3 months and now dances pain and sorrow free with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven above.

Judy was born on November 30, 1964 at the original Blanchfield Army Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY (outside of Clarksville, TN), to the late Charlene Mary (Leighton) McCullah and the late CSM (R) Herbert Pryor McCullah.

Judy was a loving wife, extraordinary teacher/coach/mentor, avid golfer and most notably a mother thoroughly committed to her children and providing for them to her highest abilities.

As an Army Wife she restructured and greatly improved Kevin’s family support group programs during both his company commands. In the 82nd ABN DIV and again in the 75th Ranger Regiment she received the Congressional Public Service Award for her extraordinary achievements improving both programs.

She taught K-12 as a Health & P.E. (HPE) Teacher for over 30 years across four states (TN, GA, NC & SC). While in Raleigh, NC, Judy won the O’Herron Distinguished Faculty Award at Ravenscroft School (recognizing teaching excellence). Greatly respected by her peers, Judy was selected to represent all HPE programs across the Atlanta Metro Area in the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance (GAPHERD). She was also handpicked to join a curriculum committee that revised/updated the State PE standards for the Georgia Department of Education in 2018.

Judy coached multiple sports (Golf, Softball, Cheer, Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field and Cross Country) winning two State Championships (Golf, Softball). As coach and first Athletic Director, Judy started the football and golf programs at Trinity Chrisitan School (Sharpsburg, GA) and as HPE Department Head at Campbell HS (Smyrna, GA) she resurrected the Women’s Golf Program.

As an avid golfer herself Judy received a 4-year scholarship joining the inaugural Women’s Golf Team at Austin Peay State University. Years later as a teacher and coach in Muscogee County, Georgia, Judy received “Coach of the Year” for golf as her team brought home the GHSA Girls’ Golf State Championship.

True to her commitment of “forever learning” Judy recently earned her Masters in Education – Health & PE Education from Georgia State University.

She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Kevin Patrick Young and her two adult children; daughter, Blair Ann Young; son, Skyler Parris Young, as well as her siblings Cheron Leigh (McCullah) Price; Parris Charles McCullah, and Lundia Ann (McCullah) Latham.

The Young Family will have a “Celebration of Life” Service on Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at the Folly Beach Baptist Church, 77 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439. Dress Code = Beach Casual - service will begin at 1pm. If you would like to share pictures to be used in the photo collage that will run during the service, please email those to blairannyoung@gmail.com .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Folly Beach Baptist Church. Go to https://follybeachbaptist.org and click on the “Connect” button. If you care to make a contribution directly to Judy’s estate, please visit https://gofund.me/03824b524 .

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - James Island, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.