Mercy Denied: The Journey of Just Judy

Mercy Denied is the life story of 79-year-old Judy Luna Holbird who has served 38 years of a 166 sentence in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Relying on an open dialogue and twenty years of prison correspondence, we describe how historical and current social forces shaped her life experiences. Judy guides us through not only her captivating four-decade backstory, but the realities of a lengthy prison life. With resolution, this great-great grandmother takes us to the darkest and most painful periods of her life. The painstaking account of her life struggles evokes strong emotions as she shares her family sorrows, social injustices, creative coping strategies, and vanishing dreams in her pursuit for freedom. You will be inspired by this woman of faith and her undeniable resilience, keen intellectual spirit and love for her family as well as her reliance on country music and gospel hymns to bring back joyful memories during her most difficult days of grief and regret. Judy is hopeful that her story, which once heard is so hard to unsee, will serve as a beacon of light for the many other women who are also holding on to a small glimmer of hope for mercy and a second chance for freedom.