Julia "Judy" Bonds
photos and remembrance by Andy Mahler
Heartwood mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Julia "Judy" Bonds, Heartwood Hellbender, defender of the Appalachian Mountains, community organizer & activist, and fearless opponent of mountaintop removal.
We first met Judy in 2003, the year she won the Goldman Prize and recognition as the most outstanding activist in North America for her absolute commitment to ending the devastation of her beloved Appalachian Mountains. Judy, accompanied by Patty Sebok and Janice Nease attended the Heartwood Forest Council held at Camp Blanton, in Harlan County Kentucky, along with the likes of Cynthia McKinney, Granny D, Woody Harrelson, Brock Evans, and Chris Schimmoeller, to deliver a keynote address. Judy inspired and motivated the attendees with her fierce dedication and her passionate commitment to justice, and she touched our hearts with the deep love she felt for the mountains of home. Judy reminded us of the fundamental connection that binds us to the places we love. She reminded us why the Appalachian Mountains hold a special place in our hearts -- the oldest mountain chain on Earth, they are also the ancient source, seed bank, and sanctuary in those storied hills and hollers of the temperate deciduous forests that for millenia have blanketed the eastern half of our continent. Judy won the hearts of all who heard the power and the passion in her voice and knew the love she felt for those mountains.
Judy was the Executive Director of Coal River Mountain Watch, in which capacity she again provided a keynote address in 2006 at the combined Heartwood Forest Council/Summit for the Mountains, held in Ripley WV -- at that time the largest ever gathering of activists and organizers dedicated to stopping the obliteration of mountain communities and culture under the onslaught of mountaintop removal. Judy's work and life were featured in numerous feature articles, television programs and documentaries, including Coal Country, by Mari-Lynn and Phylis Geller. The first scenes shot for that documentary were filmed at the 2006 Forest Council, where Judy rallied the assembled company to the cause.
Heartwood has worked closely with Judy and Coal River Mountain Watch as partners in the Alliance for Appalachia. At this past year's Heartwood Reunion, Judy was among the recipients of the Heartwood Hellbender award. The last time I saw Judy was in Nashville, Tennessee, just before she received the diagnosis that would cause her to withdraw from her duties at CRMW and attend to her own well-being. We were there for the NRDC sponsored "Music Saves Mountains" concert featuring such luminaries as Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, Patty Loveless, and Kathy Mattea, but it was Judy along with fellow mountain defenders Maria Gunnoe, Larry Gibson, and Teri Blanton who were the event's true stars.
Judy was not a large woman, but she was fierce. She had a burning passion for justice and the heart and spirit of a mama lion. She gave so much of herself and dedicated her life and breath to defending the mountains she loved. In the movie Coal Country, Judy famously remarked, "I just want to go home." and now she has. Wherever rivers run free and forests grow tall, wherever people gather to defend the places they love or celebrate the simple joys of home and community - fellowship, music, and food, Judy will be there and she will be smiling.
We love you Judy and offer our deepest sympathy to your family, and our utmost respect, gratitude, and appreciation for all you have done.