Judy Abbott
1950 - 2003
Dr. Judy Abbott, P.D. M.D., 52, of Bearden, died Saturday, May 17, at LSU Health and Science Medical Center in Shreveport, LA.
She was born December 16, 1950, in Camden, the daughter of Hershel J. Abbott and Katie Angeline Chandler Abbott.
Known affectionately as "Dr. Judy", she was an active member of First Southern Baptist Church of Bearden and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Brady Chapter 634. She was an emergency room physician at Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado.
She was a 1968 honor graduate of Sparkman High School. She was a participant in the Upward Bound program throughout high school and college. In 1998, she received state and national honors, receiving the Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs Trio Achiever Awards in Hot Springs and New Orleans, LA.
She received her bachelor's degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 1971. She was a 1974 graduate of the School of Pharmacy at UAMS, and graduated from medical school there in 1990. She held the rank of Colonel in the Arkansas Army National Guard, where she has served as a brigade surgeon, and had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Overseas Training Ribbon, Arkansas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and Recruiting Award.
She taught chemistry in the North Little Rock Public Schools, served as a staff pharmacist for the Veteran's Administration, served as a pharmacologist for the Food and Drug Administration at the National Center for Toxicological Research, was a pharmacy manager and owner of Johnson's Apothecary, and was a staff physician at Cabun Rural Health Service. She was board certified by the American Academy of Family Practice and Emergency Medical Services.
She was owner of Meded Services, a private medical education firm for medical training, served as preceptor at UAMS, a clinical instructor at UAMS, and an adjunct instruction at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, where she also the current medical director.
She was vice-chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council for Emergency Medical Services and chairman for the Rules and Regulation Committee for Arkansas, a member of the Expert Writing Panel of the U.S. Department of Transportation for training standards for paramedics, and served on many other medical related boards and committees.
As a physician, she was a caregiver, who continued to give after her death, since she was an organ donor. She was loved and respected by her patients and everyone she came in contact with. She will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Sidney Dean Abbott and a sister, Mary Abbott Morton. Survivors include a sister, Lyndell Hughes of Fordyce; a sister-in-law, Jo Ann Abbott of Bearden; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Bearden with Rev. Eric Ertle officiating. Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery in Sparkman. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. Memorials may be made to Macedonia Cemetery Association C/O Odelia Walsh 736 Dallas 203 Sparkman, AR 71763 or the American Heart Association.