Mrs. Judith Ray Sanford Arnold, 78, of Lillington died Thursday, June 10, 2010, surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 6, 1932, the third of six children, to William Hobart Sanford, Sr. and Macie Overby Sanford. Mrs. Arnold grew up in the Kipling and Chalybeate Springs area, graduated from Lafayette High School in 1950 and attended Campbell College. She retired from the Harnett County Department of Social Services.

For many years, Judy assisted in operating her husband's businesses, including Arnold Motors, Acapulco Lake and Motorcrossing, and Circle "A" Cowboy Club. She spent much of her life caring for her mother, who died in 1994. She enjoyed entertaining, cooking, working in her yard and garden, bird-watching, loving on her dogs, and helping others, frequently assisting her husband with area benefit cookouts. She was known for her sassy personality and for making some of the best soup in the area. While living at Brookfield Retirement Center, she was quite the social butterfly, constantly walking the halls and stopping to visit and laugh with everyone. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her, especially her children, who considered her not only their mother but their closest friend and ally. The family is forever grateful to her caregivers over the years, particularly the staffs of Britthaven of Harnett, Hospice of Harnett County, Brookfield Retirement Center, and Nancy Chenault.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Arnold was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Tommie O'Connor "Fuzzy" Arnold, Sr.; two sisters, Dale Hobbs and Janice Dewar; a brother, Buck Sanford; and a beloved grandson, Tommie Ray Arnold.

She is survived by daughters Cyndi Harrington and husband Mike of Broadway and Janice Arnold and husband Kenny Byrd of Lillington; sons Connie Arnold and wife Debbie of Mamers and David Arnold of Winston-Salem and partner Rob Paris of Walnut Cove; grandchildren Michael and Caitlin Harrington of Broadway, Jeff Bryant of Wilmington and Jessica Miller of Mamers; a sister, Billie Barnes of Columbus, OH, and a brother, W.H. "Bill" Sanford of Willow Springs.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Monday, June 14, 2010 at Lillington Baptist Church, 210 E. Lofton St. Lillington with Rev. Ken Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Harnett Memorial Park, Lillington. The family will receive friends at O'Quinn-Peebles Funeral Home, 1310 S. Main St, Lillington Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 PM and other times at the home of Janice Arnold and Kenny Byrd.

Anyone wishing to honor Mrs. Arnold's memory may make a contribution to Hospice of Harnett County, 111-A N. Ellis Ave., Dunn, NC 28334.


Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Monday, June 14, 2010 at Lillington Baptist Church, 210 E. Lofton St. Lillington with Rev. Ken Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Harnett Memorial Park, Lillington. The family will receive friends at Oâ