Julia Andrews

Julia Lois Folger Andrews, 99, of Milledgeville, Georgia, went home to be with her Lord on April 20, 2024. She was born in Decatur, Georgia on June 23, 1924 to Reverend Julius S. Folger and Lora Brooks Folger. She always said she would live to be 100, but there is no question about it, praise God, she will be spending her 100th birthday dancing with the Lord in her new body. She was the third of four children and spent much of her childhood at “Grandmother’s house” in Decatur. She had many fond memories of that house and shared them often. As a toddler, she pronounced her name, Julia Lois as Dudy Lody. From then on, she was affectionately known by her family and friends as “Lody”. After graduating from Decatur Girls High School, she attended High Point College in North Carolina. After receiving her degree from Georgia State University, she began her career in social work. She worked in Atlanta for a number of years before accepting a position at Twiggs Co. DFACS and relocating to Jeffersonville. Georgia. In that small community, she was affectionately known as the “welfare lady” by those she helped and served. As a caseworker, she worked with the adoptions and foster care program. She loved her job and had a passion for the children she helped through the program. She was most proud of her work with adoptions and the small part she played in building loving families through adoption. After retirement, she continued her service to others by volunteering for the Red Cross. She traveled to Florida and Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew to aid in disaster relief. Her passion, however, was for Israel and God’s chosen people in which she showed unwavering support. That commitment took her to the Holy Land with Volunteers for Israel where she did everything from working on an archaeological dig to volunteering in the nursery at the hospital. She returned nine more times on these transformative journeys. She traveled independently well into her 80s. Julia was a lifelong learner, teaching herself Hebrew and Arabic. She remained youthful by developing her passion for Israeli dancing and clogging, teaching others along the way. Surviving breast cancer as a young single mother, she was an inspiration of unwavering courage and resilience. She was boldly adventurous and fiercely independent, admirable traits passed down to her grandchildren. In the last year of her life, she spoke often of her parents and siblings. It is only fitting that she was welcomed into Heaven by her father, Julius S. Folger, mother, Lora Brooks Folger, two brothers, Alvin G. (Bubba) Folger, James W. (Jim) Folger, and sister, Mary Brooks Folger Tanner. She will be remembered by her daughter, Julie Claxton (Chuck) of Clarkesville, three grandchildren, Jenna Parker of Atlanta, Brent Parker of Athens, and Eryn Parker of Brookhaven, and nine nieces and nephews. She will be laid to rest alongside her parents in her home of Decatur, Georgia. A graveside service will be held at the Decatur City Cemetery on Wednesday, April 24th at 11:00am. The family extends our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of Lynn Haven Rehabilitation Center who went over and above to provide compassionate care for “Miss” Julia in her time there. Thank you to the nurses and staff of Affinis Hospice for their invaluable support throughout this journey.

Julia Andrews

June 23, 1924 - April 20, 2024