Judith's mother, Hazelle Vivian Halliburton, owned her own bridal fashion salon in the "Loop" in Chicago. She was the first Black women to own a high-end business on State Street and Judith and her older sister, Janet, often modeled for pageants and other events her her mother produced. The Halliburtons were quite the socialites and were often written up about over the years in the Chicago Defender for their academic and professional achievements and good works in the community.