She lights up a room and brightens your day. This is what virtually everyone who knows Judy Jaco, affectionately called “Miss Judy,” says about one of Marshall County’s favorite citizens.
Close friend David Green said it’s impossible to be around her and not laugh. Green met Jaco when he was gathering information on stories about small communities in Marshall County. Jaco has a family connection to the old Birmingham area before Kentucky Dam was built.
“She is a remarkable story-teller and has a great sense of humor,” Green said. “She’s called upon by various groups to tell stories of her life experiences. Miss Judy is one of those people, that if they’re lucky enough, every community should have.”
A graduate of Benton High School in 1952, Jaco was the daughter of Toad English, who owned a general store in Briensburg. She worked at both the Kentucky Dam and Lake Cumberland State Resort Parks before marrying Weldon Jaco. Together they ran Jaco’s Welding and Machine business and raised three children – Jeff is retired from the Marshall County Road Department, Shane works for the county and daughter Valerie lives in Nashville, Tenn., and works with a bus service that serves the entertainment industry.
Friends find it hard to pick just a few stories that Jaco has told and say that she can go anywhere and someone will know her. Green told a story of a tour bus trip she took to Gatlinburg and while stopped at a rest stop, she played a joke on her friends by asking a couple inside the rest stop to pretend like they knew her.
“When they built the McDonald’s in Draffenville, before it was even open, Miss Judy walked in and wanted to see if she could get an ice cream cone,” Green said. “She didn’t get the cone that day but was immediately taken in by managers Peter and Maureen and they honored her at the grand opening by giving her the very first ice cream cone.”
Close friend and Krazy Lady Paula Bell said she’s become one of them because she’s just so much fun to be around, speaking on her honorary Krazy Lady status. Bell said along with her four Krazy Ladies, she considers herself lucky to call Jaco one of her dearest friends.
“I’ve never heard her say a bad word about anyone,” Bell said. “She’s just a delight to be around.”
Bell also talked about Jaco’s ability as a great storyteller, and said she’s makes the most wonderful after-dinner speaker.
“She went with me to my church group one time and told stories and really entertained everyone,” Bell said. “They all said she needs to write a book.”
Bell and Jaco ate lunch together last week at Dairy Queen and said as they sat there, every single person that came in knew Jaco and had to stop and say “hi.” That day, like the numerous other lunches Bell has had with Jaco throughout the years, was filled with stories and laughter.
Her faith is very important to her and she attends Briensburg Baptist Church. Green spoke of her strong convictions and what a great witness for Christ she is.
Briensburg Baptist Church Pastor Brad Walker said of Jaco that she’s a special lady of faith whose love for the Lord just shines through her.
“Judy Jaco is absolutely an encourager”, Walker said. “Every time she sees you she lets you know how much she loves you and is praying for you. She’s a lady who never says a mean word and we need more like her.”
Walker said Jaco spends most mornings at McDonalds in Draffenville and greets people, loves on them and asks if she can pray for them.
A great friend and supporter of Marshall County sports, Jaco can be found everywhere from the soccer stands to basketball games, taking in as much of each game as she can, along with constant hugs from friends who always want to stop and greet her.
“Miss Judy is such a neat person and a joy to be around,” Green said. “She’s a mid 20th century and on, walking historian of Marshall County history.”
She turns 83 in November and one of her proudest moments came last April when she was honored as the 174th Tater Day Parade Grand Marshal.