Entrepreneur, Advocate, Partner, Volunteer
Rockingham’s Judy Cagle leaves behind a legacy of passion and commitment to the community
Judy Cagle brought heart to Rockingham, North Carolina. The dynamic local business owner and animal advocate, who passed away on July 4, 2020 at the age of 63, is fondly remembered as a force of nature by all who knew her.
Working alongside her husband, David, Judy helped run Cagle Painting, (formerly Rockingham Paint & Glass), a family business that David has managed since he was in his 20s. Andy Cagle, David’s son and Judy’s stepson, remarks, “My dad started Cagle Painting in the 1980s with just a ladder he borrowed from his mother. With his forty years in the business, he’s always expected things to be done right. No excuses. If you didn’t do it right, you did it again.” This is a sentiment that David and Judy shared.
The business, which serves the Carolinas and other areas in the southeast, has grown exponentially over the decades. The firm handles residential and commercial painting jobs of all sizes, including retail, custom work, and specialty jobs, such as work performed at Rockingham Speedway as part of an effort to regain NASCAR racing at the facility.
Passion and Commitment to Rockingham
Judy was always working on a passion project, whether for her own businesses (she owned a local gym, and she and David also owned Rockingham Paint & Glass), the downtown Rockingham business district or the community at large. One prime example is her work uniting animals with new owners through the Richmond County Humane Society, for which she was a past president and served several terms on the board. Deeply committed to her community, she even started a program with the Council on Aging, where she raised money and collected dog food and pet supplies for people who couldn’t get out to feed their pets.
As for her involvement with the Rockingham Downtown Corporation, Andy shares that Judy worked tirelessly with the local business group that “promotes Rockingham as one of these old southern textile towns.” He adds, “Jobs left and the area was economically depressed, especially after the economic downturn in 2008. Judy was big in boosting business downtown, increasing traffic, helping businesses come in.” Her signature event was Christmas on the Square, a street festival that brought local merchants and residents out and about to the downtown area.
Judy Got Things Done
Andy recalls, “Dad traveled a lot. Judy was the one who had the connections in the community. She was a very forceful personality, and she didn’t take no for an answer. She’d push to get things done, and…she got stuff done! If you met her, you’d remember meeting her. She sparkled. She twirled.”
Judy Cagle accomplished so much in her life, and she left a big hole for many people and causes.