Judy Yates Nelms, 72, passed on April 23, 2026. Judy was a resident of Cullman, Alabama. Judy was born in Franklin, Georgia, to the late Glenn Dewey Yates and the late Eloise Cummings Yates. Judy was raised in a home filled with lots of love and even more laughter, thanks to the many siblings, cousins, and other family members who frequented the Yates family home. It was during those years that she found a love for Jesus during family devotions every evening and endless hours spent at Happy Valley Baptist Church. Her youth laid the foundation for a lifelong love of dominoes, tomato sandwiches, and gospel music.
In 8th grade, Judy was introduced to the young man with whom she would share her remaining years, Jerry W. Nelms. Shortly after graduating from Troup County High School, Judy and Jerry married, and she became his biggest supporter as he completed engineering school at Auburn University. During those early years of marriage, Judy worked hard to make their single-wide trailer a happy home, always having a grilled cheese sandwich at the ready for late-night study sessions. Upon graduation from Auburn, Judy and Jerry moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a short stint, but Georgia was always on their mind.
Judy and Jerry then returned to Georgia, where they settled in Newnan. Early on in their marriage, they developed a love for riding motorcycles, a hobby that culminated in a two-week excursion up the Atlantic coast, where they both learned what it truly meant to be freezing cold. It was also in Newnan where they first became parents with the birth of their son, Jeremy. Shortly thereafter, the growing Nelms family relocated to Watkinsville. As an Auburn family, they found the proximity to Athens challenging at times for the whole gang. It was Watkinsville where the Nelms family was completed with the birth of their daughter, Katie.
In 1995, the Nelms family moved to Cullman, Alabama. Shortly upon arriving, Judy obtained her Associate’s degree from Wallace State Community College, achieving a long-held goal of her own. It was also around that time that Judy reentered the workforce after years of nurturing her young family, but she found the transition to a typical 9-5 less than fulfilling. Fortunately, her husband encouraged her to think outside the box, and with that newfound freedom, she embraced her more creative side and developed her first alter ego, Chloe the Clown. Equipped with new balloon animal making skills, a magic kit, and a handmade costume, she made memories for kids and families all across North Alabama. It was through Chloe that she was first introduced to the party store, It’s My Party.
In 2000, Judy became the owner of It’s My Party and thus began a nearly 25-year passion project. Over the years, she was instrumental in creating thousands of memories, equipping others for bridal showers, graduations, birthdays, costume parties, holiday festivities, and any other event where you might need fake vomit, silly string, or any other manner of mischief. To say she loved her job would be an understatement. It was also during her tenure at It’s My Party that she developed her other alter egos, through which her singing telegram service was sure to make any event, including interrupting a court proceeding and stopping a wedding, one for the record books. Her characters included Henrietta the Chicken, Deidre Death, and her most notable character was Lulu the Gorilla in the Pink Tutu. After helping to be a part of so many memories being made over the years, she became an indispensable part of the Cullman business community. It was her love for her customers and for those who would just stop by and pull up a stool to chat that kept her going each and every day. After retiring from her store, she devoted her remaining years to loving her grandchildren, who were her greatest joy, and of course, pulling out Lulu the Gorilla in the Pink Tutu when duty called.
Judy is survived by her husband, Jerry W. Nelms; her son, Jeremy Nelms (Elizabeth); her daughter, Katie Fine (Jacob); her sister, Glenda Brooks (Lamar); her brother, Glenn Yates (Cynthia); her grandsons, Bradlee Nelms, Cooper Fine, and Milo Fine; her granddaughters, Mara Nelms and Eloise Fine; and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Judy was preceded in death by her mother, Eloise Cummings Yates; her father, Glenn Yates, Sr.; her sister, Vickie Davis (Paul); and her niece, Kimberly Traylor.
Visitation will be held at Desperation Church, 510 5th St SW, Cullman, AL 35055, on May 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at Desperation Church beginning at 1 p.m. A Committal Service will take place at Cullman City Cemetery, 9th St SW, Cullman, AL 35055, on May 2, 2026, following the Celebration of Life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Desperation Church Cullman children’s ministry, Desperation Kids, in Judy’s honor.
Moss Service Funeral Home is directing.
