I was honored to be one of 150 guests at the 50th anniversary celebration of my dear lifelong friends, Jerry and Judy Yonce. The event took place at the beautiful Rocky Hollow Farm venue on Rose Hill Road, just outside of Wytheville.
A touching slideshow of memories, set to a constant rotation of 1970s soul music, played throughout the event. The celebration featured extraordinary catering from Sisters Restaurant in Marion, complete with exquisite desserts—I personally sampled at least four different kinds of cheesecake that afternoon!
Also on display at the Sunday event, held on June 1st, was a deeply moving scrapbook featuring clippings from Jerry and Judy’s engagement and wedding announcements in 1975, alongside a display of their original wedding glassware and china.
The most touching part of the evening came when the traditional wedding hymn was performed. Jerry drew a big laugh from the crowd when he jokingly launched into a medley of “The Old Gray Mare” and “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.”
Judy then spoke warmly—and with some humor—about their rocky courtship, which began when she was just 13 years old. Their relationship was on-again, off-again until they finally married nine years later.
“I figured if I got him to the church,” she said with a smile, “then we were going to make it.”
Her tone then shifted to something more reflective.
“There were three things I asked of Jerry before I agreed to marry him,” she said. “First, if he was looking for a girl just like the one who married dear old Dad, he needed to keep looking—I was not nearly as strong as his mother.”
She recalled a vivid image of her late mother-in-law, a petite woman, single-handedly operating a garden tiller with no assistance.
Judy continued, “I also told him I wanted to be first in his life after God. And if he ever stopped loving me, I wanted him to be honest and tell me. And if he ever cheated on me and I found out, I promised I would make his life a living hell.”
Jerry clearly had no trouble living up to those conditions. Fifty years later, they looked as radiant, jubilant, and in love as the photos from their wedding day.
Jerry is known throughout Wythe County as one of the finest cooks the region has ever seen. As the longtime head caterer at the Log House 1776 Restaurant, he is responsible for expanding not just my palate, but my waistline over the past 40 years. I often say that, when it comes to cooks, there is Jerry—and then there’s everyone else. He is a tremendously humble, kind, and generous man.
As for his bride, Judy has been my friend for practically my entire life. She was my physical therapist from the time I was two years old. Beyond helping me with lifelong challenges related to cerebral palsy, she has been a constant confidant and counselor through both my darkest hours and brightest days. She has cried with me in joy and sorrow, laughed with me, and hugged me through it all. Her love and support have never wavered.
As the minister of Trinity and Mount Olivet United Methodist Churches in Pulaski, Judy extends the same care and compassion to her many parishioners, friends, and family members. A devoted mother to Latricia and Davina, she is most proud of her only grandchild, Josiah. I was thrilled to finally meet him. I’ve heard stories about him since the day he was born, and it was an honor to shake the hand of such a gracious and intelligent young man—a credit, without doubt, to the loving but firm guidance of his grandparents.
“Since the day we got married, Jerry has wanted to sing to me,” Judy shared. “I’ve never let him—until today. So I wanted to share this special moment with you all.”
Reflecting on their less-than-steady early days, Jerry addressed the crowd with his signature humor and humility:
“Judy remembers all of this so well,” he said. “But I don’t remember any of it!”
Few people have given more to this community than Jerry and Judy Yonce, and even fewer couples have meant as much to me personally. I am so grateful to their equally warm and spirited daughter, Latricia, for inviting me to be part of this very special celebration.
I am eternally thankful for the friendship of these two wonderful people and wish them many, many more years of happiness and love.
