Joyce Hanks Miller's Obituary
Joyce Jeanette Hanks Miller, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 2, 2018 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He has welcomed her with arms open wide and called her His good and faithful servant.Joyce was born in Louisville, Kentucky on October 9, 1936 and spent her childhood years in Bradford, AR but lived most of her life in Memphis & Germantown, TN. She married her sweetheart from South Side High School, James Donald Miller, on January 28, 1955 and followed him through his 4 year military service with the US Army. Eventually they returned to their hometown of Memphis. Joyce was a wife, mother, grandmother and active church member at Second Baptist Church. She diligently worked on many projects at the church, most notably the Easter production of The Way of The Cross, an outdoor experience of the final week of Christ’s earthly life. She helped construct Habitat for Humanity houses, crafted beautiful wedding dresses for each of her daughters, helped in countless activities in the community and children’s personal lives in addition to lovingly teaching Sunday School for many years to 4 and 5 year olds about the love of God.She was preceded in death by her mother, Agnes Duncan Hanks; father, Jeff Davis Hanks; and infant son who died after two days. She is survived by her husband, James Donald Miller; daughter Rhonda Miller Cheyne (Gary) of Kernersville NC, and daughter Cherie Miller Lamb (Milton) of Memphis; sister, Angie Tullock, sister and brother-in-law Bobbie & Tommy Gatlin; and brother & sister-in-law David & Barbara Hanks. In addition, her grandchildren, Mandi, Stephanie, Amy, and Tripp, and great-grandchildren Kaylin, Jaxon, Bryson, and Dylan.Joyce was loved by her family, her church family and many others whose lives she touched with her smile and compassion and talent. She could do anything she set her mind to do. She would learn everything about her interest and master it. She could roof a house, tile a floor, paint beautiful oil paintings, build furniture, do intricate woodwork, sew any kind of clothing, or home décor, create beautiful sweaters on a knitting machine and much more. She loved her University of Memphis Tigers basketball team and cheered them on at their games for many years.Visitation will be at 11:30 AM on Friday, September 7 at Second Baptist Church, 4680 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis with funeral service to follow at 1 PM. Burial will be at Memorial Park Southwoods, 5485 Hacks Cross Rd, Memphis.In lieu of flowers, please join us in the fight against Alzheimer’s and send a donation in her name to https://act.alz.org or 1-800-272-3900.Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.
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