Memorial Scholarship honors mother’s legacy

Judy provided exceptional medical care. She treated aches and pains. She soothed worries. And now, there’s a scholarship to carry on what she did in life: take care of other people.

Judith “Judy” Hovis brightened the corridors at then South Lake Memorial Hospital where she served many years as a respected nurse, supervisor, community member and role model. Some people knew her as Judith Wolfe, and others as Hovis after she took the name of her second husband.

Judy passed away two years ago, just shy of her 83rd birthday. Her daughter, Denise Wallace of Clermont, established a scholarship at the Community Foundation of South Lake in her mom’s memory to carry on her passion for nursing.

“I’ve been a part of the Foundation almost from when it started,” said Denise, who served on the board until 2012. “So I was very familiar with scholarships and thought it would be a great way to honor her.”

Being a nurse was even more rewarding for Judy because it was almost a lost dream, said Denise. After one year of nursing school, Judy decided to quit because she chose to get married (to Denise’s father). She returned to college and got her degree when Denise and her brother were in high school. “Nursing was very important to her,” said Denise, “even though it was difficult to complete a degree and raise a family.”

Scholarship donors define the criteria for who will receive it. It’s no surprise that the Judith Hovis Nursing Scholarship models the same footprint as Judy’s journey: non-traditional nursing students at Lake-Sumter and Valencia. “Perhaps someone going back to school, who has children, and it’s not always possible to put together a school life around home life,” said Denise.

The scholarship fund started small and is building, she said. Her intention is to make it self- sustaining (endowed) where the earnings fund the scholarship in perpetuity.

“She was the one who everybody called,” said Denise, “the one who took care of everybody else. I miss so much about her. I miss her medical knowledge. She was a very loving mom. Unbelievable mom. Stern though. We had to do well in school and get good grades.”

Judy was well known and ingrained in the community, living here since she was 5. She joined the hospital staff in 1976, and in the 1980s, received a stack of service awards for not only her nursing prowess, but also her humanitarian ways. Several awards were decided by her peers.

Hospital newsletters described her having “an innate ability to relate to people,” even helping after-hours with transportation or phone calls to check in. “She is able to handle crisis in such a casual, controlled way that other people wonder why they panicked.” In her role as day supervisor, Judy was often spread thin, moving from the emergency room to the hospital wards as well as serving on numerous committees to improve care.

Perhaps a wink to the future, one of Judy’s many professional committees was serving on the Allied Health Scholarship Committee at the hospital.

After leaving the hospital, Judy worked in private practice, then as a hospice nurse. When Judy passed, other nurses and many others who used to work with her told Denise, “We sure miss your mama.”

Besides nursing, Judy’s greatest joy and favorite thing in life was being a grandmother. She hosted holiday events and weekly dinners. Judy had six grandchildren and five greats.

“My kids say I use the same slang and say the same things she said. They say, ‘You’re just like grandma.’”

Which makes Denise glow inside.