Judith Willis

05/24/1941 - 02/17/2026

Judith Laura Levine Willis of Kensington, Md, author of two books on feminist spirituality and retired writer-editor with the Food and Drug Administration, died on February 17, 2026 of pneumonia at Montgomery Hospice Casey House. She was 84. She wrote her books, Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century and She Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother, under the name Judith Laura and published poetry in literary magazines and anthologies under that name. She joined FDA in 1979 as editor of the FDA Drug Bulletin, a publication for health professionals. In 1989 she became the editor of FDA Consumer Magazine and the deputy director of communications staff in FDA's Office of Public Affairs. Articles she wrote for FDA were reprinted in a number of anthologies and magazines, including Woman's Day and Weight Watchers. From 1997 until 2000 she was FDA communication staff's director of special projects. Before joining FDA, she was assistant director for public affairs with the Fairfax Hospital Association. She is survived by a daughter, Heidi Palombo of Annandale, VA; two sisters, Adrienne Fischer of Canada and Cynthia Thomas of Massachusetts; and four nephews. Services held on March 7th at 11 am Demaine Funeral Home Springfield, VA 22151