Judy Brinkley Yoder

Judy Brinkley Yoder, 81, of the Wellington Aero Club, Florida “flew west” on February 6th, 2026, at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Born August 10th, 1944, in Grady County Georgia to Joseph and Wilma Brinkley. Judy completed high school and attended the University of Georgia.

Judy spent most of her adulthood as a wonderful mother, housewife, business partner, traveling worldwide in support of cattle embryotic research and business. She loved animals, everyone she met, and has friends worldwide. Judy has a special gift for making you feel alive and wanting to know more about her. She was an avid fisherwoman, worked hard to empty Lake Kariba, lake Okeechoobe, & Buddy's Pond. Late in life she married Col. Dave Yoder, USAF Ret. and took up residence at the Wellington Aero Club, Wellington, Florida. She spent time flying with Dave and traveling back and forth to a second home in Hendersonville, Georgia. 

She is survived by her daughter, Shannon Van de Wall (Coley); Son, Shane Coley; 5 Grandchildren; and 8 Great Grandchildren, all of whom she was immensely proud. The Brinkley family is quite extensive, with her brother, Buddy; sister, Glenda, and many others attending an annual Brinkley reunion.

Judy was a devout Christian and thoroughly enjoyed helping out at the “Carpenter’s Hands Ministry” at the Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC. Judy also helped a ministry known as “Adam’s Kids’ which supports projects in Honduras (to which she also contributed her expertise in Honduras). Any Gift or contribution should be sent to either of those ministries:

Carpenter’s Hands Ministry: 403 Rutledge Dr. Hendersonville, NC 28739

Adam’s Kids: 31 Country Drive Mills River, NC 28759

A service is not planned, but a celebration of life will be scheduled in the near future. She will be interned with her husband, Col. Dave Yoder, in the future at the Veterans Cemetery in Bushnell, Fl.

A poem by David Harkins sums up how to remember Judy and her life on Earth; “She is Gone” – David Harkins

"You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back  Or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on,

You can cry and close your mind, Be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what she would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on."