Judith Halliburton Zavige was a force to be reckoned with. Known to friends and family as Judi, she was brilliant, bold and beautiful.

Judi was born on Nov 28, 1946 in Detroit Michigan to John and Hazelle Vivian Halliburton. Later Judi and her older sister, Janet, were moved to Chicago, Illinois and then to Maywood, Illinois, where Judi attended Proviso East High School. There, she expressed a passion for art history and theater and won several statewide dramatic reading competitions.

After graduating high school early, Judi joined a theater company in Chicago, where she met and later married her husband, Gene. They had a daughter, Vivian, and soon after left the States to live in Spain. The family made an extended road trip across southern Europe to Turkey, a trip in which Judi was more than once taken for an African princess! She eventually returned to Chicago and ultimately moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with Vivian.

Judi showed extraordinary intelligence even as a young girl and graduated high school when she was barely sixteen. After earning a BA in English and her Master's in Business Administration, graduating with honors, she started a successful company to provide business consulting and medical transcription services for the largest hospitals in San Francisco. She was one of the first in her field to utilize cutting edge technology.

Judi could always be counted on for a lively discussion on any topic. She spoke with great wisdom and accuracy about history, philosophy, comparative religions, politics, art, language, law, mathematics and science. She was one of the most knowledgeable, articulate people you could ever meet - a walking thesaurus who used language in ways that left listeners spellbound. Judi's secret ambition at an early age was to become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. Fiercely independent and inspired by her mother’s legacy as an entrepreneur, Judi pioneered her successful Black-owned business in San Francisco. Later in life, Judi accepted a position with one of her largest clients, Kaiser Permanente, where she ultimately retired.

Perhaps the best words to describe Judi are passionate and multi-faceted. Judi wrote several short stories and screenplays. She was talented at interior and fashion design, often creating her own custom creations with exquisite fabrics she curated from around the world. She was a fine sketch artist and painter as well (be sure to check out some of Judi's art on the “Photos” tab of her Memorial page).

Judi was an inspiration and often went out of her way to help others and speak words of encouragement to them. She loved her family, friends, and church family. And though no longer married to Vivian’s father, Gene, she maintained a close friendship with him.

After retiring, Judi agreed to leave San Francisco, the city she loved, to live with Vivian, her “son-in-love”, Ty, and her two granddaughters, Dillyn and Kendyll, who were Judi’s pride and joy! Celebrations of family, life, and milestones were frequent, elegant and warm in their home together. Judi loved to attend church every Sunday as a family, where she served on the Prayer Team. And because Judi was also a gourmet cook, she and her daughter enjoyed hosting plant-based cooking classes in their kitchen for church family.

Judith Halliburton Zavige made her transition on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Concord California. She was 73.  She is survived by her loving daughter, son-in-law, granddaughters, sisters, Janet and Michele Halliburton, brother, John Adams, sister-in-law, Grace, and a host of adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Judi lived a rich, rewarding life filled with love and laughter. She will be remembered best for her brilliance, creativity, advocacy, activism, philanthropy, humor, and her deep and abiding love for God and all people. Judi is missed more than words could ever describe. Her bright light and loving spirit will live on in our hearts and memories forever!

Please join us for an incredibly special virtual Celebration of Life Memorial on the day of Judi’s birth, Saturday, November 28th, 2020 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time (details listed under “Events”). You will not want to miss this on-line celebration to bring together friends, family, special guests and musical performances from around the country to honor this amazing woman! 

While you are here, please take a moment to click on the "Memories & Condolences" tab and share a story or message about Judi. We hope you will return to this Memorial page often to post and read memories from all who knew and loved Judi. 

Isaiah 40:31:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."