In memoriam: Judith Midkiff, project associate with Virginia Cooperative Extension

Judith Lynn “Judy” Midkiff of Midlothian passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018, due to complications from metastatic breast cancer. She was born in Halifax County on March 20, 1965, and was 52 years old.

Midkiff had been employed by Virginia Tech through Virginia Cooperative Extension since 1987. During her three decades with Extension, she served in a variety of capacities. She began her Extension career in Smyth County, serving as Extension agent until August 1994. Midkiff then worked as an area coordinator within the Virginia Family Nutrition Program before moving into the position of project associate and then program manager. As program manager, she managed the infrastructure of the program, collaborated with other partners to enhance the program, and managed the evaluation component of program activities. 

“Judy was a positive and dedicated employee and Hokie, constantly striving to ensure excellence. She was a generous colleague and friend. She will be dearly missed by me, her Virginia Tech family, and many others,” said Elena Serrano, a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist, director of the Family Nutrition Program Project, and a professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Midkiff received several honors and awards during her professional career, including the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences New Achiever Award and the Epsilon Sigma Phi Mid-Career Award. She served as president of the Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Virginia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Alpha Gamma Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. She also chaired committees for the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and completed a term as chair of the Nutrition Division of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. An award will be established in her memory within the Virginia Family Nutrition Program.

She received her bachelor’s degree in human nutrition and foods from Virginia Tech in 1987. She also received a master of science degree from Virginia Tech in resource management in 1994.

She is survived by her daughter, Anna Katherine Midkiff; her sister, Carolyn Midkiff Harris; and husband Fred of Littleton, North Carolina; her nephews, Kevin Harris and wife Suzannah of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Andrew Harris of California; and beloved, cousins, family, and friends.

Her brother, Edward Earl Midkiff, preceded her in death.

She was the daughter of the late Earl Scott Midkiff and the late Shirley Hodnett Midkiff.

She was a former member of First Baptist Church of Millstone and a member of Tomahawk Baptist Church in Midlothian, where she served as a deacon and worked with youth.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 24, 2018, at First Baptist Church of Millstone with the Rev. Kristopher Cook officiating.

A burial followed in the church cemetery.

For memorials, consider:

The Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Home, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, VA 24528; the Susan G. Komen Foundation; or Tomahawk Baptist Church, The EDGE, 12920 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112.

Online condolences may be directed topowellfuneralinc.com.

Arrangements are by Powell Funeral Home, South Boston.