Late-blooming love: Hartselle couple marry after four decades of friendship
Photos by Rachel Howard
In a world where love often blooms early, Judy and Wayne Young prove that sometimes the sweetest romances come later in life.
Their story, a testament to the power of love’s unexpected twists, weaves together the threads of two lives marked by loss, resilience and ultimately, a deep and enduring affection.
Judy Young, nee, Owens, first crossed paths with her now husband and his family nearly four decades ago. Through the years, she had the privilege of working for him and his late wife, during which she grew to admire Wayne not only for his character but also for his compassionate dealings with clients. They both had experienced decades-long marriages, only to face the cruel hand of fate when they lost their respective spouses. Judy’s husband passed away in 2019, while Wayne became a widower in 2021. Both were adamant about never venturing into another relationship, let alone contemplating marriage.
Wayne, a man known more for insurance paperwork than poetic proclamations, was Judy’s insurance agent. She said she never expected to encounter him in any other context except for discussions about premiums and coverage. It was a twist of fate that brought them closer. When Judy’s daughter received a grim diagnosis of stage-four ovarian cancer, she reached out to Wayne through his secretary, asking him to pray for her daughter. Wayne began calling Judy every couple of months to inquire about her daughter’s condition. These were never personal conversations; their exchanges remained confined to the status of insurance.
That was until late July 2022.
In an unexpected twist, Wayne reached out to Judy about her daughter and expressed a desire to connect on a personal level. Judy, ever open to the prospect of support, welcomed the idea. Their first phone call led to conversations that stretched for hours, night after night. They even ventured into the outside world, going out for a meal. At the outset, they were adamant that their connection would remain a friendship devoid of romantic intentions. That resolve held strong for two weeks.
Judy soon realized that her heart was entangled with Wayne’s, though she remained reticent about revealing her feelings. She yearned for him to make the first move and didn’t want to influence his emotions. Little did she know Wayne was wrestling with similar sentiments. Unbeknownst to one another, they each turned to a higher power for guidance, praying for a sign that their budding affection was in accordance with divine will.
Weeks later, Wayne broke the ice by leaning in for a kiss and confessing his love for Judy. Their conversations shifted from friendship to marriage, and the universe seemed to conspire in their favor. The Lord, they believed, granted them assurance that their union was in accordance with His will. In a whirlwind four months from their first date, they were wed, opting for a church wedding to cement their commitment.
“I decided after our first long phone call that I should let my daughters know that Wayne and I were starting to talk on a friendly basis,” she said. “My older daughter, Heather Edgecombe, hung up from talking with me and told her husband, ‘Mom’s going to marry Wayne Young,’ and she immediately started to look for a dress to wear to the wedding.” Tragically, Heather was unable to attend the wedding as her cancer had worsened. She passed away Sept. 15, 2023.
Their love story, born in the crucible of life’s challenges and illuminated by their faith, stands as a testament to the enduring power of love, even when it arrives later in life.
“We were both wondering why things moved so quickly; but now we see the Lord’s hand in providing for my help and comfort during the death of my daughter,” Judy said.
