Julia Brinkerhoff

1932 - 2025

Julia Brinkerhoff

September 11, 1932 - September 4, 2025

Julia Mynatt Brinkerhoff – beloved wife, devoted mother, and doting grandmother – died on September 4, 2025 in Auburn AL. Julia was born on September 11, 1932 to Carl and Lillian Mynatt. She graduated from Dumont High School in 1950, and soon after married her high school sweetheart, Herbert Norman Brinkerhoff, on March 8, 1952. What started as a high school romance evolved into a deep companionship that flourished for 72 years.

Known as "Judy" to Herb and "Sugie" to her grandchildren, Julia was fiercely devoted to her family. Her sons, John Charles Brinkerhoff, Sr and James Sanford Brinkerhoff, were born in Jacksonville, Florida during the start of Herb's career at Nabisco. The family moved frequently up and down the eastern seaboard as Herb climbed Nabisco's corporate ladder. Julia was a source of love, understanding and compassion as her children grew. Throughout all the joys and turbulence of daily life, Julia was the family's anchor – the one who kept everyone grounded, meals on the table, and the boys off to school. In their retirement years, Julia and Herb loved hosting their grandchildren at their home in Murrels Inlet, South Carolina. She spoiled them with cold root beers, home cooked meals, arts and crafts projects, shopping sprees, boxes of Snickers bars, beach trips, and the girls with fingernail paintings. They later moved to Auburn, Alabama to be closer to their immediate family.

Alongside the humans in her family, Julia cherished her pets. They always kept dogs, from their first dog Denny, a cocker spaniel, to their most recent miniature schnauzer, Pepper. She got tickled pink watching silly dog videos or admiring cute pictures of her many "great-granddogs."

Julia invested fully in her community, wherever she lived – from participating in book clubs to volunteering at nursing homes to attending church services on Sundays and Wednesdays. She and Herb were charter members of the Grand Strand Church of Christ in South Carolina. Since moving to Auburn, they were members of the Auburn Church of Christ. Julia was a cancer survivor of six years.

Julia is survived by her son John Sr. (Fresia Vega); daughters-in-law Nan and Mary; grandchildren Samuel, Joshua (Sara), Amy (Johnny Pak), John Jr. (Leigh), Anna (Jason Bramburger), Rebekah (Dan Ferm), Ben (Marybeth) and great-grandchildren Ellie Baker, Naomi James, Livy Ann, Teddy James, Jesse William, and Margaret Julia. She is predeceased by her husband, Herb; her parents; and her son, Jim - whom she called "Sandy."

There will be a graveside service at Town Creek Cemetery at 10:30 on Wednesday, September 10th. Reverend Charles Magby will be officiating.

Memorial donations can be made to College Ministry Apprenticeship, Campus View Church of Christ

1360 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30605 or Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 432 Maple St.,

Opelika, AL 36801.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home

1500 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801