Judith "Judy" Raye Cooper Rion

Mrs. Judith "Judy" Raye Cooper Rion, age 81, of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Born September 4, 1943 in Winnsboro, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late William Horace Cooper, Sr., and the late Edna Metholine Davis Cooper.
Judy's family moved to Georgetown, South Carolina, where she met the love of her life, Gerald "Jerry" Port Rion, Sr. They were only 15 years old, deeply in love, and inseparable from the start. About a year later, Judy's family had to relocate to a different town, and Jerry helped them move- but he could not bear to leave her- so he stayed with them and found a job. Several months later, Judy and Jerry returned to Georgetown and were married at Screven Baptist Church on September 30, 1960.
Judy and Jerry began their married life in Georgetown, and their family grew with the blessings of a daughter, Kathy, and a son, Gerald. In the spring of 1965, they moved to Myrtle Beach, where they opened and operated Rion's Shoe Store. In 1972, they made their permanent home in Surfside Beach, and in 1976, they relocated their shoe store closer to home in nearby Garden City and renamed it Shoe Port. A few years later, Jerry became a licensed HVAC contractor, while Judy continued managing the Shoe Port until she retired from the shoe business in 1988.
She and Jerry were just kids when they married, and they had fun "growing up" with their children. Judy enjoyed playing Bingo at Jones Bingo near the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, Shag dancing at the Pawleys Pavilion, Square Dancing with Jerry, and she loved the rides at Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park – especially the Scrambler! She and Jerry were master Bridge players. They, along with their children, were avid bowlers and became weekly "alley rats" at the Myrtle Beach Lanes and Waccamaw Bowling Center. After her retirement, Judy enjoyed the art of painting ceramics, and she found so much joy in Crocheting beautiful Barbie doll dresses, blankets, scarves, and hats for her children and grandchildren. Although Judy was not a fan of cooking, when it came to fried shrimp- she was the QUEEN- her fried shrimp were absolutely the best in the world!
Judy was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Her greatest joy was her family she was affectionately known as "Granny" by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she adored. Judy loved watching her children's sports and cheerleading activities, family vacations to Maggie Valley, Disney World, and Caribbean Cruises. She enjoyed weekends of camping, fishing, and shrimping at North Inlet & Bird Bank. She cherished large family gatherings, and her favorite pastime was trolling for flounder in the inlet with her beloved husband, Jerry.
Judy was a faithful believer in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and she and Jerry looked forward to hearing Pastor Bill Monroe of Florence Baptist Temple preach the Word on TV every Sunday morning. God has greatly blessed Judy and Jerry with almost 65 years of marriage and an incredibly happy and beautiful life.
In addition to her parents, Judy was predeceased by her brother, William Horace Cooper, Jr.; her father-in-law, Samuel Weir Rion, I, her mother-in-law, Clara Port Rion; and her brother-in-law, Samuel Weir Rion, II.
Judy is survived by her husband, Gerald "Jerry" Port Rion, Sr.; her children, Katherine Rion Mikolajczyk (David), and Gerald Port Rion, Jr. (Lynnette); nine grandchildren, Jonathan Paul Jeffcoat, Kelly Jeffcoat Dishong (Dustin), Morgan Mikolajczyk Insley (Isaac), Madison Mikolajczyk Smith (Aaron), Macy Mikolajczyk Carpenter (Jake), Savannah Rion Kane (Mike), Mallory Mikolajczyk Palchak (Jacob), Carly Cooper Rion, and Merrill Grace Mikolajczyk; six great-grandchildren, Kaitlin Blair Dishong, Isla Claire Insley, Thomas Fisher Jeffcoat, Frank Reed Dishong, David Huntington Insley, and John Cyprian Palchak; two sisters, Dale Cooper Joiner (Wayne), and Delores Cooper Styers Bell; a brother-in-law, James Allen Rion (Sara); two sisters-in-law, Angela Rion Bunn (Joey), and Julia Rebecca Rion; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel with Rev. Kirk Lawton officiating.
The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Ocean Woods Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charitable organization of one's choice.
Please sign the family's guestbook at: www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com
Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.