Oct. 27, 1946 – Sept. 12, 2012

STARKVILLE — A memorial service for Judith Kent Guess, 65, of Starkville, who died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Welch Funeral Home Chapel in Starkville with the Rev. Freddie Rasberry officiating.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Judy wanted her ashes spread on All Saints Day in the Mississippi River at New Orleans Thursday, Nov. 1.

She was born and raised in Natchez, but also loved her adopted home of New Orleans. She was a lifelong hairdresser and had a number of friends she had made over the years in her profession who were like family.

Judy loved doing things with her hands: gardening, renovating her own double shotgun house in the uptown of New Orleans. She loved great music, great food and the quality moments spent with family and friends.

Judith was a loving mother, sister, daughter and aunt.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Winfield Kent and Helen Altom Kent and one uncle, Mac Altom.

Survivors include two sons, Andy Yates and wife, Karen, and Jay Yates and wife, Amy; one brother, John Kent and wife, Linda; and two grandsons, Josh Yates and Kent Yates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Dysautonomia Foundation for research into Multiple System Atrophy.

The family extends thanks to her companions, Andrea Luscious, Kizzie Luscious and Natalie Bush.

Online condolences may be sent to www.welchfuneralhomes.com.