Obituary: Judi Ayal - Atlanta Jewish Times

Judi (Judith Irene Shumsky) Ayal, 77, of Atlanta Ga., passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 8. Predeceased by her longtime husband/companion, Gilber Sherr, she will rest for eternity at his side. She is survived by her sons, Ofer Michael, his wife, Kristin, and grandson, Harry Charles, and Eran Micha, his wife, Laurel, and grandson, Asher Ori, along with her sister, Jane Adrienne Shumsky of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Growing up in Great Neck, Long Island, N.Y., Judi graduated from University at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisc., with a degree in anthropology in 1968. Her studies, along with her Jewish upbringing, guided a move to Israel where she continued her studies and love of archeology, living on a kibbutz. It was there that she met and married (1969) Noam Ayal and had her two children (1971 & 1975). They moved back to Port Washington, Long Island, in 1976 to be close to family and to aide in the care of her ailing mother, Elanore– Z”L (1977). The family moved to Atlanta in 1979.

Judi ensconced herself in the Jewish community along with becoming heavily involved in the artist community. She volunteered at the AA Synagogue, the Shearith Israel Woman’s Shelter and Garden Hills Elementary School. Later, she spent a lot of time potting and teaching at Callanwolde. Judi worked at the Peachtree Road AJCC and began a 30-plus year stint working at the Jewish Federation with guest experience, the Holocaust museum, working closely with the docents therein. She continued potting long after she stopped working, taking great pride in gifting (and selling) her work in and around Atlanta. She loved local/Southern folk art and attending the Jewish movie festival, often sitting for hours on end watching films of, by, and about Jews, Israel and Jewish culture.

Memorial donations (in lieu of flowers) can be made to The Coleen Cunningham Foundation (CCF) providing support and resources to individuals and families affected by Atypical Parkinsonism. PSP, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, took her mother and ultimately, Judi: www.pspawreness.com

A small funeral was held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 10, with Rabbi Chaim Lindenblatt officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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