Judith Eileen Tobias

In loving remembrance of Reverend Dr. Judith Eileen (Berry) Tobias, affectionately known as Judy. She passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital surrounded by her family and loved ones. Dr. Tobias was born June 24th, 1944 in Pittsburgh, PA to (the late) Daisy and William II. Berry, Sr.

In addition to her parents, Dr. Tobias is preceded in death by; William H. Berry, Jr. (brother), Marjorie (Berry) Dixon-Brown (sister), Morton Berry (brother) and Yasere Hollis (grandson).

She is survived by her siblings; Patricia (Berry) Thompson-Wilson (sister) (the late Hubert Wilson) and Victoria (Berry) Johnson (sister). She is also survived by her children; Todd Hollis (Pittsburgh, PA) and Troy Hollis (Erie, PA); (their father) George Hollis, granddaughters; Gia Hollis and Imani Tobias, her Aunt Edith (Berry) Johnson and a host of Nieces, Nephews and Cousins whom she loved dearly.

At a young age, she joined the family church and was baptized at Warren United Methodist Church located in the historic Hill District. She felt that her call to ministry began in her youth. She found that working in various ministries was joyful and gave her a deeper understanding to serve God. While at Warren UMC she served as Evangelism Team Leader, Treasurer and Lay Teacher, just to name a few of her roles. During 2003, she decided to answer the call to serve her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During her spiritual journey she recognized the need to help single mothers within the community. In 2005, she founded the Yadah-Yadah Prayer Ministry, Inc. (inspired by the Yada-Yada Prayer Group novels by Neta Jackson). She organized a group of women that originally began as a book club/prayer ministry that throughout the years touched the lives of many disadvantaged people and single mothers through both local and worldwide community services.

She received her childhood education from Pittsburgh Public Schools and graduated from Schenley High School in 1962, but that wasn't enough. Dr. Tobias was a leader and scholar determined to further her education. In 2008, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree, in Community Ministry from Geneva College located in Beaver Falls, PA. She didn't stop there. She continued her pursuit of education and obtained a Masters of Divinity degree (MDiv) from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2013. In 2022, Dr. Tobias successfully achieved her lifelong dream when she graduated from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, earning her Doctorate in Ministry (DMin). The title of her doctoral project was "Developing Harmony in the Church as it Relates to Ordining Women". Dr. Tobias' doctoral project was such a success. It had a profound effect on those who participated in the program. Many were inspired to continue her work on how women were affected in the ministry.

Dr. Tobins was such a trailblazer to break down barriers. In 2015, she was ordained and installed as the first African American female Pastor at St. John's United Church of Christ located in Larimar, PA. She truly enjoyed her pastoral duties and community drives during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Her devotion to the community touched many hearts.

For many years, she worked at Exxon Mobil as an Administrative Clerk in corporate America and became a Certified Tax Preparer with the Internal Revenue Service and utilized her organizational knowledge, ethics, professionalism, accounting and marketing skills to establish her own business; Hollis & Associates. Through her personality and wit, her business associates became longtime friends.

In her spare time she enjoved reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends while doing community services. She also enjoyed celebrating and everybody knows Judy loved, loved a good party! We know if she was here today, she would say let's get this party started! Look at God!

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