Judith Wiser Martin, known to all as Judy, passed away peacefully at her home in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on November 14, 2025, at the age of 81. She was born in Shelbyville to the late Winston and Katherine Wiser and lived her entire life in the community she loved. As the daughter of a five-time World Grand Champion trainer, she grew up surrounded by Walking Horses and the traditions of the industry. From the earliest days of her childhood, she was a horsewoman through and through.

Judy attended the University of Tennessee before marrying Joe Martin in 1961. Together, they formed one of the most recognized training partnerships in the Tennessee Walking Horse world. Their barn produced a long line of top-quality horses and riders over several decades. Judy’s natural feel for a horse, her quiet strength in the saddle, and her ability to bring out the best in both horses and people made her one of the most respected trainers of her generation.

Over the course of her career, Judy trained or rode dozens of notable champions and became known for her consistency and precision in the show ring. Her proudest professional achievement came in 1976, when she won the World Grand Championship on Shades of Carbon, a horse she and Joe developed from the earliest stages of his life. The win became a defining moment for her and remains one of the most fondly remembered victories in Celebration history.

Judy went on to train many of the industry’s most admired horses, known for her fairness, patience, and deep understanding of the breed. She was inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame and, in 2025, was honored with the Living Legends Award, which recognized not only her competitive accomplishments but her lasting influence as a mentor, teacher, and leader within the industry.

Judy was loved not only for her expertise but for her straightforward nature. People valued her honesty and clarity. You always knew where you stood with her, and that quality endeared her to many. Riders trusted her guidance, trainers sought her counsel, and her presence shaped countless careers in and out of the show ring.

She was also an avid University of Tennessee sports fan and a sports lover in general. Her pride in the Vols was unmistakable. Many remember Judy and Joe pulling onto showgrounds in their bright orange and white horse trailer, a reflection of her enthusiasm for her team and her home state.

After retiring from full-time training in 1993, Judy opened Judy’s Jewels, an antique and gift shop in Shelbyville. She later worked as a bank teller at First Community Bank and FirstBank. She formed close relationships with her regular customers, and her coworkers never ran out of stories to tell about her humor, personality, and the unforgettable way she approached life.

Judy touched the lives of many through her work with horses, through her businesses, and simply through the way she moved through the world. Her influence reached far beyond the show ring and left a lasting impression on the many communities she was part of in Shelbyville.

She is survived by her son, Joe (Mike) Martin-Grimes of Palm Springs, California; her granddaughters, Sydney Martin-Grimes of San Diego, California, and Kendall Martin-Grimes of Los Angeles, California; and her grandson, Ethan Martin-Grimes of Salt Lake City, Utah. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Wiser and Edward Wiser.

A Celebration of Judy’s Life will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on the Celebration grounds. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation beginning at 4:00 p.m., prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Walking Horse Trainer’s Legal Fund by mail: P.O. Box 61 Shelbyville, TN 37162.

Doak-Howell Funeral Home is serving the family.