Biography:

Judith Glisson Snowden, of Little Rock, Arkansas, danced into paradise on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Judy (affectionately known as "JuJu") was born on November 17, 1939, in Memphis, Tennessee to her loving parents, Robert Francis Glisson and Mary Nell Greer Glisson. She is survived by her beloved husband, David Elder Snowden, Sr., and son David Elder Snowden, Jr. (Terri), grandchildren Elaine Kelly Green (Nick), Robert Snowden Kelly (Emily), David Elder Snowden, III (Adele), Anne Elizabeth Snowden Wynne (Grant), as well as eight great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her two daughters, Allie Starke Snowden and Christian Overton Snowden Davis (Mark), and her sister, Bobbie Partee.

Judy had to grow up quickly due to her parents’ demanding jobs. As a child she would come home in the afternoon from the Snowden School and take on household duties. She was a neighborhood favorite, performing dance routines at the nursing home and befriending children at a nearby orphanage. At East High School, she was a cheerleader and president of Sigma Kappa Sigma. She received the Ada Norfleet Fuller Scholarship for Leadership to attend Rhodes College (then Southwestern) where she served as a class officer, pledged Delta Delta Delta, cheered, and was selected to the homecoming court. She later married David, and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia while he completed his degree at the University of Virginia. It was there that they would welcome their first child, Christy.

David was drawn to agriculture, and upon graduation the couple moved to Scott, Arkansas, where he partnered with George Alexander to begin a career in farming soybeans, cotton and alfalfa. They lived on Old River Lake, an idyllic time for both. The family would picnic, go boating, water ski, bike, and ride horses, many times with their friends in Little Rock.

Eventually, they moved into Little Rock, where Judy set about raising her family, starting a business, and becoming involved in the community.

Judy had a deep appreciation for beauty - in people, in art, and in the natural world. She had a gift for creating welcoming spaces with timeless style. That gift inspired her to create her interior design business, Wonderful Things, which she led for 32 years. Her designs reflected the spirit and soul of the people who called them home.

Her boundless energy and servant heart combined to continually "pay it forward". Nothing thrilled her more than opening the door for young people to the myriads of possibilities the world offered. In her words, she loved to "plant young people and watch them grow and prosper." This was her passion. She also had a gift of spontaneously sensing when someone could benefit from kindness, whether it was an understanding conversation or a handwritten note with just the right words. She had compassion, and her sincere hope was that her kindness to people would be a path and inspiration to others.

Judy also valued the importance of community service. She served in leadership capacities of the Junior League of Little Rock, the Scattered Seeds Club, the Little Rock Garden Club, the Arkansas Symphony Guild, The UAMS Foundation Board, the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Day School Board, and was a member of the boards of the House of Prayer, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Vestry, the Museum of Natural History, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Arkansas State Arts and Humanities Council, and the Arkansas Supreme Court's Professional Conduct Committee. She was also appointed by President Jimmy Carter as one of the first Arkansas representatives to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Her service to the community led to multiple awards and honors. Out of all of her public services, her dedication to UAMS remained her highest priority after its profound effect of caring for her family.

Above all, Judy relished her friendships, and this adoration was wholeheartedly reciprocated. What encapsulated her most was her desire to have fun despite life's challenges. She enjoyed her outdoor adventures, dancing, dining, especially when it included a good steak devoured in ketchup, and just being with family and friends. She loved her time with David, whether it was with the ducks at Kingdom Come or standing in a river in Crested Butte catching trout. She was game for an adventure. And she especially loved her Labrador retrievers who are at this moment still licking her in the face.

She took immense pride in the family she cultivated, and the achievements that will serve her state and home for years to come.

She said it best herself: "It is now on the wings of angels that I ascend and go home. My heart remembers the good times we've shared and those that were difficult have schooled me in love and fairness. Take joy, feel the love of others that's all around you. I praise the One who made us and stays with us until the end."

A celebration of Judy's life will commence at 10:30AM, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock (located at 310 W 17th Street), followed by private family service at Roselawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are in the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com

Memorials in Judy's honor may be made to the UAMS Health Foundation (4301 West Markham, Suite 716, Little Rock, AR 72205).