The Greenwood Commonwealth
Greenwood, MS
Jul 1, 1999

Judy Gale Slaton Pyron, who died of heart failure Wednesday in a Memphis hospital, was remembered as a compassionate person devoted to helping the poor.

Mrs. Pyron, founder of the former Helping Hands Center in Greenwood, died at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis. She was 58.

"She knew that Jesus Christ was more than just words," said Becky Johnson, of Holcomb. "He was an action. You had to work, and she knew that it was feeding the hungry and clothing the poor and putting an offer around them when they need an extra touch."

Mrs. Pyron established the Helping Hands Center as a faith based ministry. It operated a soup kitchen and salvage store for several years in downtown Greenwood.

A native of Carroll County, Mrs. Pyron had been a longtime resident of the Greenwood area. She moved to Grenada a year ago but continued to work in Greenwood and the clerical office of Greenwood Leflore Hospital. She was a member of the One Accord Ministries in Greenwood.

Previously, she and her family had delivered the Commonwealth for many years.

Mrs. Pyron was a graduate of J. Z. George High School.

Mrs. Johnson, who grew up with Mrs. Pyron's children, said that Mrs. Pyron took a great personal interest in young people.

"She was like a second mother to me," said Mrs. Johnson.

"She looked out for us, taking us on hay rides, bonfires, to the skating rank and bowling alley. She worried about the youth so much. If it had not been for her, I don't know where a lot of us would have been today."

Funeral services for Mrs. Pyron will be Saturday at 2:00 PM at Williams and Lord Chapel.

She was preceded in death by a husband, Thomas Aaron Slaton; her parents, Ernest and Neppy Palmertree Jackson; and a brother, Ernest Wayne Jackson.

Survivors include her husband, Michael Pyron of Grenada; one son, Timmy Slaton of Greenwood; four daughters, Teresa Tharpe of Indianola, Debbie Wiggins of Greenwood, Diane McLellan of McCarley, and Renee Dottley of Teoc; two brothers, Robin Jackson of Cary, NC, and of Greenwood; two sisters, Sharon Wilson of Greenwood and Jean Stokes of Milton FL; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 PM until 8 PM Friday at the funeral home.

The Rev. Danny Jackson will officiate at the funeral service. He will be assisted by the Rev. Philip Lawson.

Pallbearers will be Marty Wiggins, Robbie McClellan, Barry Tharp, Little Robbie McClellan, Mark Wiggins and Andy Gentry.

Burial will be at Centerville Cemetery and Carroll County.