Judith Grosvenor-Joseph

Judith Grosvenor-Joseph - A Life to Be Remembered

Judith Camelia Grosvenor-Joseph was born June 1, 1956 to June Salina and Dudley Mathlin in Port of Spain on the island of Trinidad. Several years later she was joined by her beloved baby brother Ricardo (aka Ricky). As a child Judith enjoyed good food (as long as it was not oatmeal), listening to music, and singing.

As a young adult Judith started working with the 7th Day Adventist Church and eventually became the secretary at the conference office. She loved working with the church because she made many good friends and was passionate about her work. She was offered several promotions, but she liked the position she was in too much to change! Her position allowed her to travel, taking a boat to different islands to help with camp meetings and kids programs. She loved to see different areas and meet the people who lived there.

It was in Valencia that she met Frederick Joseph, a colporter, selling books for the church. The two fell in love, and were married right there in Valencia. Not too long after, on March 24th, 1985 Judith was blessed with the birth of her son. They named him Shem Tiras Joseph, though almost everyone knows him today as TJ. TJ became Judith’s life. Though she did choose to continue her job, she centered everything around TJ and what was best for him. TJ was raised with the love and help of Judith, Judith’s mother June and step-father John along with Aunty Ruby and several other family members.

Judith raised TJ to love the lord. She made sure that he was always in good schools but more importantly always brought him to church. TJ loved to complete his lessons and read his Bible. She used to brag even today that when TJ was a boy she would sit him down at the end of the week to do his lesson just to find it was already complete and he could recite his memory verse word for word!

In fact, one of Judith’s favorite stories was the time their house burned down…that sounds funny, because it was a tragedy, but they found a miracle too. While TJ was still a little boy he and Judith were living with her mother June (lovingly referred to as Granny). While the family was out a terrible fire started in the house. When they got back they discovered much of the house had burned and their earthly possessions were destroyed. The fire had been put out and as the family stood looking at their home, TJ ducked out of his mother’s grasp! Despite everyone trying to stop him, he ran into the house. Judith yelled after him but he disappeared inside, returning outside only after he’d retrieved his treasured Bible. Later when the family could walk through the home Judith saw where the Bible had been. Everything else in the room had burned. From that day forward, they called TJ’s Bible “The Bible that didn’t burn”.

When TJ was in elementary school, Judith’s little brother Ricky passed away while at work in Houston, TX. Luckily Judith’s Aunt Ruby was able to bring Judith over to the United States, and she stayed as a Bible worker. She was able to be with her family in their time of need. Several months later she brought her son out to live with her and they settled into their new life in Houston.

Judith knew that she wanted to provide a good life and good education for her son. She had a great capacity for caring for others and got a job at a nursing home as an assistant to an assistant. She knew that if she wanted to move forward she would need more education, so she simultaneously put her son through school and took night classes to become certified. It wasn’t long before she was armed with her new education, and was able to get a job at St. Luke’s Medical Center. As a medical professional she knew there would always be work available and opportunity to advance and better care for her son.
Determined to give TJ the best opportunities in life she worked her way up, always taking on extra shifts and working nights and holidays so that she could get TJ a computer and other essentials when he needed them for school. As a single mom she often went without so that her son would have all that he needed.

In 2003 she was so proud to watch her son graduate high school, from the Magnet Program. This program was designed for serious students, filled with honor classes and extra requirements. When TJ was accepted to Southwestern Adventist University that year Judith could have said no, there’s no way we can afford it! Instead she told him how proud she was, and that whatever it took they would find a way to make it happen. Over the next six years Judith worked tirelessly often picking up extra shifts in the hospital any time she could. TJ also worked 2 jobs while in school, determined to share the financial burden (much to his mother’s chagrin!). She wanted him to focus on his studies and not stress…what a great mom!
TJ graduated from Southwestern Adventist University for the first time in 2008 with a degree in Criminal Justice, then again, the following year he graduated with a 2nd degree in Psychology. Some of the proudest moments in Judith’s life were getting to watch her son receive his college degrees. Thanks to all of her hard work (and probably some loving support from Granny and Aunty Ruby) plus several scholarships, they managed to accomplish both degrees with NO STUDENT LOANS! Simply taking out bank loans and paying them off each year.

The next big event Judith celebrated was bringing a daughter into her life; TJ got married! She often spoke of how proud she was that TJ found such a wonderful, giving woman to be his wife. In 2017 Judith was both sad and excited to leave her Houston home and move in with Karen and TJ. It was hard to leave the home she’d made for herself, but she was very excited to be able to spend more time with TJ and Karen and be close after years of living apart!
Moving and settling in was an adventure. Judith, Karen and TJ had so much fun talking of memories, sorting through childhood things and making Judith feel at home. They also worked hard to have a healthy lifestyle, which helped Judith to feel better and be more active.

Even though Judith’s life ended unexpectedly, we really treasure these last few months that we spent together. Every night over the last month or so the family spent together at the hospital visiting and having family worship. Because Judith loved music we spent much of her last few weeks singing hymns and praise songs. In fact, on Judith’s last day she insisted that we sing as we held hands and enjoyed time together.

We feel that we have been so blessed to enjoy the friendship, warmth and love of this amazing woman. Everyone that knew her could tell endless stories of her humor, teasing and love for her family. We are grateful to have been able to have her in our lives, and can’t wait to see her again when Jesus returns.