Judy Adams-Smith

On June 2, 2025, Judy Adams-Smith, beachcomber extraordinaire, watercolorist and restaurateur, crossed over the rainbow, surrounded by her lifetime partners and friends. Judy was born on December 11, 1944, in Miami, Florida to Ruby J. and William Edwin Smith. She married her longtime steady right out of high school and moved to Plattsburg NY where he was stationed in the Air Force. A few years after the birth of her daughter, Judy moved back to Ft. Lauderdale. She began working at Saks Fifth Avenue and met her second husband to be. Once married, they moved to Pompano Beach where her son was born. In 1970 the now family of four relocated to just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Judy, born with a natural artistic flair, began seriously painting with watercolors. Impressed by her work, friends and family encouraged her to show her paintings in Atlanta area art shops and boutiques. Eventually, her work could be found in Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, and Fernandina Beach, which created a little money-making enterprise. In 1974 she and a group of old friends rented cottages on St. Augustine Beach for a reunion - vacation. They found St. Augustine's beauty, Old World charm and low density irresistible. All fell in love with this unique spot. An epiphany struck! Why live in crowded urban areas, with a diminishing quality of life when they could be living in this coastal paradise? "Life is short, it's now or never" was the unanimous opinion. They headed back to their respective homes and planted For Sale signs in their front yards while agreeing to meet weekends in St. Augustine to property shop. In 1975 they pooled their resources and were able to buy a large oceanfront property with four ramshackle cottages on Vilano Beach and began their joint adventure. In 1976 while renovating the cottages, they were approached by a friend from Palm Beach about managing and buying for a Lilly Pulitzer resort wear boutique in Marineland. Judy and one of her partners agreed to fill the positions. In June 1978 another career option presented itself that would allow Judy and her six partners to go into business together. Everybody loved cooking and enjoyed eating good food. So, when an old local restaurant, Cowboy's, came on the market, they jumped on it. And the rest is history! Saltwater Cowboy's enjoyed remarkable success, which enabled the partners to open two other mainstays on the local restaurant scene, Fiddler's Green and Creekside Dinery. Judy retired four years ago, after 43 years in the restaurant business. Her memory will be cherished for her loyal friendships, unending kindness, and adventurous spirit. Judy (aka JuJu, Dilly) was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and Ed Smith, her son, Keith "Splash" Wegner, and life partner John Wierda. She is survived by her life partners Terry Richardson, Scott Singleton, Bill White, and Peter Lawlor, her grandson Smith (Sierra) Foster, her great-grandsons, Layton and Ryland Foster, and friends too numerous to mention. There will be a Best of Times Commemoration remembering Judy's life at a future date. Judy, a lifelong animal lover, would appreciate any gift made in her name to: Friends of St. Johns County Pet Center PO Box 7 St. Augustine, FL 32095

Judy Adams-Smith

December 11, 1944 - June 2, 2025