Ernestine "Judy" Murphy Todd, who served on the Wendell board of commissioners from 1994 to 2000, passed away on Sept. 29. She was 91.

Todd was known for her caring nature, ability to lead, and was "one of the best citizens Wendell has ever had," according to Wendell commissioner Ira Fuller.

Fuller was town manager in the 1990s while Todd served as commissioner.

In 1994, Todd replaced her late husband, Curtis, on the board of commissioners, and then ran for that seat in 1995 and won.

"She was a very sincere person," Fuller said. "Very conscientious about doing what was right."

Tom Hill, pastor of Wendell Christian Church, described Todd as someone who was "tender-hearted" but also "feisty in a good way."

"People would joke about not being able to trust politicians. And she'd respond: 'I'm not a politician, I've always gotten things done,' " Hill said.

Todd was also known for her ability to sing. She sang with the Sweet Adelines of Raleigh, the Wendell Octet, the Auburn Cavaliers and the Wendell Christian choir. She also played piano for the church's Sunday School classes.

Todd loved singing, and was a member of Wendell Christian her entire adult life, but her presence was engrained in the Wendell community.

Over the years she served as vice president of Wendell Historical Society, chairperson of the Wendell Historical Ball and the Miss Wendell Pageant. She was a hostess for the Miss Harvest Queen pageant, and director of the Wendell variety shows and musicals in the 1950s.

Todd also served on Wendell's planning board, worked as a teacher at Wendell High School, and owned and operated Todd Electric Co. in Wendell after her husband's death.

"We heard many times in the funeral that she was very feisty, a take-charge person, who was known by her beauty, kindness," said Todd's son, John.

Perhaps the only passion of Judy Todd's that equaled her love for singing and helping others was her joy in watching the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

Hill, Todd's pastor at Wendell Christian, described her fanaticism this way: "When we get to heaven and see Judy, she'll probably be wearing a Braves baseball cap."