Judith Elza Crosland

Judith Elza Crosland, age 80, passed away quietly at home on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, after a brief, final illness. Judy was born in Knoxville and lived her younger years both in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when her father was employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and abroad while her family accompanied her father in the United States Diplomatic Corp. Judy attended Mount Holyoke College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a degree in physiology. While at Mount Holyoke, Judy became interested in politics and would later join some of her classmates as a founder of Emily's List, a progressive political action committee. Possessing a keen sense of design and style, Judy was known to design and make her own clothes at times. She and her husband, John Crosland, Jr., maintained homes in Charlotte, North Caroline, Linville, North Carolina, and Litchfield, South Carolina. They traveled extensively and lived for extended periods of time in London and Paris, where Judy loved and supported fine arts, collecting and occasionally negotiating purchases for days in fluent French. "Joi de vivre" was not merely a phrase to Judy. Fifteen years ago, joy for life took on a far deeper meaning for her after being in a coma for 12 weeks following a life-threatening closed-head injury while walking her dog. Judy defied all odds and made a full recovery. She learned to walk, speak, eat, drink, and read again, always with her wry sense of humor and joy for life, especially the joy her grandchildren brought to her. Judy is predeceased by her parents, Paul Martin and Novella Morgan Elza, her husband, John Crosland, Jr., and her eldest son William E. McClamroch, III. She is survived by her sister, Paula Harris (Michael) and her brother, Michael Elza (Doris), and nieces and nephew, Susannah, Amanda, Christina, and Michael John. Also, she is survived by her son, Michael T. McClamroch and daughter-in-law, Robin D. McClamroch (William) and her grandchildren Michael, Megan, William, John, and Matthew McClamroch, and her step-son, John Crosland III; as well as her beloved English Golden Retriever, Bella. The family would like to thank her loyal house managers, Juanita Miller (Charlotte), Fredia Thomas (Linville) and Heather Keller (Knoxville), her compassionate caregivers from Homewatch and special friend David Matthews, her nurse Aundrea Scholem, Dr. Punam Bhandari, Dr. Monica Crane, and Smoky Mountain Home Health. Additionally, the family extends deep appreciation to Judy's Knoxville friends for their warm welcome, visits, cards, love, and support, and the difference they made in Judy's time here and to her neighbors at the Villas of Forest Brook for the unselfish and graceful way they accepted the inconvenience of a neighbor with many caregivers. A private celebration of Judy's life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Arts Fund for East Tennessee and mailed to East Tennessee Foundation, 520 W. Summit Hill Drive, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN, 37902, or online at www.eastennesseefoundation.org.

Tributes

Judith Elza Crosland

October 16, 2018