Judy M Strother Taylor

Judy M. Strother Taylor spent her life in service to others — especially young people and animals. Professionally she was known for work in youth mentoring and human development, serving on federal-level efforts to support prevention and mentorship programs. Her leadership included roles with national initiatives in mentoring and juvenile development, and in more recent years she was connected to Pretty Good Cat, a Long Beach-based nonprofit focused on rescuing and rehabilitating injured cats, where public filings list her as an officer.

Friends and colleagues remembered Judy as someone who made steady, long-term commitments: her career centered on developing programs and supports that helped young people navigate difficult circumstances, and she brought that same care to animal rescue work in her community. Those public records and organizational filings show a pattern of quiet, sustained service rather than short-lived projects — the mark of someone who preferred hands-on help and program building to public fanfare.

Judy shared a deep partnership with her husband, Lawrence (often called Larry) Taylor, a well-known Southern California attorney. The couple lived in the Naples Island neighborhood of Long Beach for many years and were active and recognized figures in that community. Their family and neighbors recall Judy’s devotion to caregiving and to causes she believed in; in recent years Lawrence was his wife’s primary caregiver as she faced advanced illness.

Public accounts confirm Judy’s professional contributions and local community ties, and filings for Pretty Good Cat (a nonprofit based in Long Beach) identify a Judy Taylor in leadership, supporting the organization’s work on behalf of injured and at-risk cats. Beyond organizational titles, the public record emphasizes Judy’s lifelong focus on helping others — from mentoring youth to protecting animals — and that she brought practical commitment to those efforts.

Judy’s life mattered to family, friends, program participants, and neighbors who saw in her a steady, compassionate presence. While public sources provide the outline of her service and community roles, they also show that she was a real person whose work left tangible benefits: young people reached by mentoring programs and animals helped by local rescue efforts. Her passing on October 4, 2023, left those communities with grief for a neighbor and leader who had devoted decades to care and to making life safer and kinder for those she served.