Judith Hartzog

Mrs. Judith Coggins McElhannon Hartzog, 85, of Givhans, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones Sunday, December 3, 2023.
She was born May 9, 1938 in Columbia, South Carolina the daughter of the late James Coggins and Muriel Stone Coggins Driggers. A graduate of Georgia Women's College, she was an elementary school teacher. She guided the learning of countless 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the states of Kansas, Oklahoma and South Carolina and obtained her Master of Education degree while supporting the career of her late first husband Lieutenant Colonel Virgil B. McElhannon USAF.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and valued her family above all else. She was blessed to remarry the late Alfred Franklin Hartzog in 2005 and they spent 17 happy years traveling, and attending church and sporting events while cherishing their combined families.
She was a gifted singer who used her talent to bring glory to the Lord as a member of the choirs of her home church, Trinity Methodist Church in Givhans and a regular guest in the choir of Ridgeville Baptist Church. During her college years, she performed with a vocal ensemble at Rockefeller Center as well as performing in many cathedrals in Europe during her years as an Air Force officer's wife.
She had a special love for Christmas and would elaborately decorate her home welcoming friends and family to celebrate the birth of the Savior. Her family finds it especially fitting that she entered the kingdom of Heaven on the the first Sunday of the advent season which represents HOPE.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands Lieutenant Colonel Virgil Bennie McElhannon USAF and Alfred Franklin Hartzog as well as her brother Colonel James E. Coggins US ARMY. She leaves behind one son Shaun McElhannon (Belinda); two daughters Kelley Wanish-Strobel (Tony); Kathleen McElhannon (Kevin); five grandchildren and their spouses Valerie (Corey) Porterfield, Jon (Pernilla) McElhannon, Justin McElhannon, Abby McElhannon, and Mack Wanish; four great-grandchildren Quinn, Lucas, Deacon and Emma.
A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 12 at 2:00 Trinity Methodist Church in Givhans, 1514 Hwy 61. The family will receive friends immediately preceding the service from 1:00-2:00. Per her wishes, her body will be cremated prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation to Epworth Children's Home, PO Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250 https://www.epworthchildrenshome.org/
or Dorchester PAWS 136 Four Paws Lane
Summerville, SC 29483 https://dorchesterpaws.org/give-today/