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Obituary
Joyce “Joy” E. Adams, age 85, was surrounded by family when she passed peacefully at home on February 13, 2024. The daughter of Miller and Hazel (Pruitt) Coffey, Joy was born in Plantersville, South Carolina on February 11, 1939. She graduated from Garden City High School in (1957)and went on to work at Ford Motor Company as a secretary. There she met the love of her life, Frank Adams. They were married on January 28, 1961, and were blessed with 63 years of marriage and six children. Joy is the loving mother of Lea Anne (Steve)Chowen, Lisa Adams, Lori (Tony Diorio) Adams, Lynn (Fred) Pischke, Frank Michael Adams II, and Lani (Vince) Weslow. She is the dearest grandmother of 28, and great-grandmother of 15.
Joy had many vocations in every season of her life, but her greatest one was being a wife and mother. Devoted to her family, she selflessly put their needs above her own. She encouraged them to be the best they could be and was always available to support, encourage, and advise. Her role as mother and grandmother (Nana and Grand Nana)demonstrated her unconditional love, strength of spirit, and generosity. She loved her family and was very proud of all their accomplishments.
Joy also shared her love of the Lord with others. She introduced her family to God’s love and mercies and raised her children in a Catholic home. She was a role model of Christian values and encouraged her family to rely on God in times of trial to give peace and understanding. Joy loved to lead her family in prayer before meals at family gatherings.
A generous person, she was always ready to lend a hand for the benefit of those less fortunate. Over the years she was involved in many silent auction fund raising events by providing auction items that she either created or purchased. She loved to shop, especially for others!
Joy was a talented vocalist and shared this gift in mid life. She was a natural performer and brought much “joy” to others through song.
She loved an event and planned many gatherings of families and friends. Trip planning was her specialty. She most enjoyed travel with Frank, especially in their retirement years.
She was a natural storyteller that created “Lily stories” for her grandchildren that she made up on the fly. They also enjoyed her rendition of the “Night Before Christmas” every Christmas Eve. She even recorded her voice reading the story for her younger grandsons and great grandchildren. A precious gift!
Joy was enthusiastic in all her endeavors, especially in the home she made for her family. She was able to create a beautiful safe haven for all who entered. She had an eye for color,decor, and design (she loved a peach bathroom and her house always smelled like potpourri!) Like her mother, she was a skilled seamstress and could iron anything. She created curtains for each of her daughters’ homes… every time they moved. She enjoyed crafting, making every family member blankets and wreaths and floral arrangements. She was a lover of flowers and looked forward to outdoor planting season every year. She designed colorful and interesting container gardens as well, sharing her knowledge along the way. She also loved the harvest and taught her daughters and granddaughters how to can pickles and tomatoes. She was an amazing cook too, making comfort food like chicken paprikas, Southern fried chicken, Christmas pierogi, and fruit cocktail cake from scratch.
Joy accepted everyone with an open heart, open arms, and a beautiful smile. She was gracious and kind and had a way of bringing out the good in others. She made a welcoming home with these attributes.
Joy was a “ mother to all” and touched the lives of many
with her maternal love.
She also had a great sense of humor, making jokes and funny remarks until the end. Forever making others smile with her “joy.”
Joy will be missed and remembered by the many lives she touched.In addition to her husband, children, grand children, and great grand children, she is survived by her sister and dearest friend Vera Cavin-Phillips. Also many nieces, nephews, cousins, sister in-laws and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Betty Evans, brother James “Jimmy”Coffey, brother Kenneth “TIm” Coffey, brother rDavid Coffey, sister Judy Meadows, and brother-in-laws Carl Cavin, Carl Phillips, Paul Adams and Jim Meadows.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Angela Hospice.
