Obituary of Julie Porter

On January 6, 2021 Julie Williams Porter, 53 went to be with her angel baby in heaven. She was born to James and Linda Carr Williams on February 25, 1967 in Cortland NY. Julie was a bespectacled, fearless child, often barefoot hunting dragonflies, making mud pies and exploring the colorful corners of her imagination with her partners in crime. Her loving family provided memories of magical Christmas eves, family clambakes and station wagon sleepovers. Cartwheels in the backyard on Pheasant Run soon turned into handsprings on the balance beam for gymnastics teams in Ithaca and Binghamton. Always in motion she naturally became a cheerleader at Cortland High School where she found her lifelong tribe of staunch, loving and loyal friends. She attended Phillips Hairstyling Institute and mastered the art of the full volume high tease. She married the man she would love, like no other, in a simple ceremony at her parents’ home in 1997. As a mother, her children were her entire world. They were her light, her purpose, her soul. Her cheerleading skills were put to good use as a proud and loud purple tiger mom for both her children. Perhaps it was Jule’s bright smile, sparkling blue eyes or sassy wit that kept her faithful customers coming back to the barrooms she worked at in Cortland. Julie needed to be needed. Many sought her special kind of love and protective council. Losing her daughter Alexis broke her heart in places she didn’t know existed. Her tribe of friends and devoted family helped her on the path to healing, but nothing quelled her sorrows more than seeing a baby. Babies loved Jujee. Her soft approach and sing songy conversations filled the space between sips of cocoa or splooshes on a splash pad. Julie’s father, James Edward Williams, joined his daughter on her journey to heaven on the same day she passed. Julie is predeceased by her daughter Alexis Porter, her uncles John and Stephen Williams, aunt Linda Reynolds, father and mother-in-law Richard and Joan Porter, dear friends Tanya Wyant and Patrick Stark. Julie is survived by her husband Joseph R Porter of Cortland, her son Christopher Hendriks (Meghan), mother Linda Williams, sister Rebecca Costa (Gregory), brother Matthew Williams (Megan), nieces and nephews Josie and Jack Williams, Nicholas and Matthew Costa and grandson Charlie Hendriks. She will forever be missed by her aunt Margaret Ann Giamichael (Michael), aunt Valerie Williams, uncle Don Carr, cherished cousins Linda, Lori, Mike, Terri, Susan, Mark, Erin Beth, Brandy, Benjamin and Jill as well as cousins Pete and Jeff Carr. Sisters-in-law Theresa Tummino (Chuck), Roxanne Carey, Julie Romero, nephews Joey Tummino, Casey Nelson, Justin Carey and her special boy Max McLyman. Private funeral services will be held at St Mary’s Church, Cortland on Monday January 25th, 2021. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Services are private, Mass may be streamed at https://m.facebook.com/wrightbeardfuneral homeinc/ on Monday Jan. 25 at 11 AM.