MAKING AN IMPACT
Judy Dean Celebrates 10 Years of Service Judy Dean has been serving as Prayer Intercessor at the North Georgia Pregnancy and Family Resource Center since late Spring 2009. She is visually disabled, but she knows there is power in prayer. So when a call went out for volunteer help at the Center, she responded. Even though she depends on friends in the community and in her church for transportation, she’s an inspiration and a blessing to so many people in Jasper. Judy moved to Jasper, Georgia shortly after her marriage to Randy Dean. She and Randy met in Hallandale, Florida in 1982. Judy was working at the local hospital in the housekeeping department and helping her girlfriend clean rooms at the motel that she managed. Randy was working in construction and happened to be rooming at the same motel. Their paths crossed, their conversations deepened, and their relationship blossomed. They were married in 1983. Randy’s family encouraged them to move to Jasper so they wouldn’t be so far away and offered them the rustic home they owned on Burnt Mountain. They accepted the offer and Judy found work at the Pickens County Nursing Home, which is now Pruitt Health and Rehabilitation Center. Randy found work in the textile industry. They were settling into life in the North Georgia mountains, balancing work, family and social time. Sadly, they had completely ignored their spiritual lives until financial and health challenges started knocking them down.
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Their son, David was born in 1987, so Judy became a stay-at-home mom. But when he was just a toddler Judy began losing her vision. After much testing, it was determined that she had a genetic disease that would eventually lead to blindness. Since she was no longer able to drive, they decided to move closer to Jasper. Randy was having a hard time coping with Judy’s impaired vision and began drinking heavily, which led to physical and verbal abuse. It wasn’t long before he started using drugs too. They separated in 1992. Thankfully, the church reached out to minister to Judy and her five year old son. Their acts of kindness and compassion showed her unconditional love. A friend invited her to a prayer meeting on July 24, 1993 and Judy heard Jesus calling her name. She quickly answered His call. She trusted Him as her Lord and Savior that night and just knew He was going to take care of her and her son. Amazingly, the Lord was working on Randy’s heart too. He repented and received forgiveness of sin while serving a jail sentence for possession of drugs. Pastor Frank Lathery faithfully prayed with and discipled Randy until he was released from jail. Pastor Lathery knew Randy needed work, so he hired him to help in his home construction business. God is so good! Judy and Randy were reunited in 1995. Together with God as their foundation, they have a strong marriage and family. Their son, David, graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College in 2013 and works as a Computer Technician in Marietta. Judy has a heart for people in need – especially single young mothers and couples struggling with abusive behavior. If you or someone you know needs prayer, stop by the Center and ask for Judy. She would be privileged to pray for you. We’re so thankful for the many years she has prayed for the Center, our staff, and for everyone who comes through our doors. She’s a true prayer warrior!
