Obituary of Judy Davidson Lineberger

April 7, 1950—April 30, 2021

Judy Davidson Lineberger, 71, was the second of four daughters born to A. B. and Ruth (McSwain) Davidson of Shelby, N.C. Judy began drawing on walls at age three and grew up as a passionate artist. By the time she was at Shelby High School (Class of 1968), she was teaching art classes at the City Park and painting the city’s historic Merry-Go-Round. In her junior year, Judy was one of 100 artists in the state selected to study at the Governor’s School in Winston Salem, N.C.

After high school, Judy attended Peace College in Raleigh, and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in fine art. In 1972, she married her high school and college classmate, Wade Lineberger. The couple moved to Washington, D. C., where Wade spent his first career as a member of the U.S. Army Concert Band.

In Washington, Judy’s career as a professional artist flourished. She began as an illustrator for Time-LIFE books. Her skills as a quick-sketch artist drew the attention of other media outlets, and soon Judy began doing courtroom art for all the major television networks. Among her more notable trials were that of D.C. Mayor Marion Berry and Oliver North’s Iran-Contra trial. Judy was one of four artists allowed in the courtroom on the night John Hinkley, Jr. was arraigned for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan. The next morning her sketch of Hinkley appeared on the front page of almost every newspaper in the country. Judy noted that her proudest courtroom experience was the swearing-in ceremony of Sandra Day O’Conner, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judy did so many hearings at the Supreme Court for the major networks that she was featured in a 1989 C-Span interview as “The Supreme Court Artist.”

After 22 years in Washington, D.C., Judy and Wade relocated to Columbia, S.C. There, Judy worked in PR and advertising, and as a free-lance illustrator of children’s books. She was contacted by CNN in 1995 to cover the Susan Smith murder trial in South Carolina, which again featured her art nationwide.

Although Judy and Wade eventually divorced, they remained close friends until his death in 2019. Judy is also preceded in death by her parents, A.B. and Ruth Davidson, and her beloved Yorkie, Daisy. She is survived by her sisters, Patricia Weeks (Alan), Amanda Childers (Bill), and Amy Davidson, her nephew, Davidson Berrier, two nieces, Margaret and Emma Berrier, a special BFF, Lois Weeks, and beloved extended family and friends.

The family plans a private memorial to celebrate Judy’s remarkable life in the near future. In lieu of flowers, Judy’s family requests a donation in her honor to any local Humane Society or animal shelter.

Family and friends may sign the online tribute wall at www.southcarolinacremation.com.