Virginia Joyce Taylor

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Virginia Joyce Taylor, passed away peacefully at RidgeCrest in Mount Airy on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.  She was in her 97th year and spent her final hours listening to hymns alongside her loving children – a tender mercy of the Lord and something she valued throughout her life.  Virginia was born and raised in Surry County to the late Eugene Fletcher Joyce and Nellie Frances Inman Joyce.  Her husband of 44 years and the great love of her life, Curtis Lee Taylor, preceded her in death.  Their marriage led to two children, seven grandchildren, and a still-growing brood of nine great-grandchildren.  Mema’s greatest joy was her family.  She loved hosting Sunday dinner after church, single-handedly preparing a spread that often featured at least two entrees and no fewer than two pies.  In fact, her grandsons all requested Mema’s cooking when away at Boy Scout camp.  In addition to modeling a true servant’s heart with her endless hospitality, she taught us how to tend a garden, achieve the just-right consistency for homemade Christmas candies, and create joy in the hearts of others through special traditions.  Virginia was a hard worker, and upon retiring, she reveled in showing up for her children and grandchildren in their endless pursuits.  She also read voraciously and journeyed to destinations near and far with friends, including her travel buddies, the late Bertie Branch, Nancy “Tootie” Hemmings, Linda Cooke, and Lois King.  We all admired her sharp sense of humor, loyalty, humility, and strength of character.  Beyond her children, grandchildren, and dear friends, her Shelton Church of the Brethren family loved Virginia dearly.  She remained vigilant in her belief that everything else would fall into place if you put Him at the center of your life.  We are grateful that our precious Mema has been taken home to a loving Heavenly Father.  We rejoice that she is now with her sweet husband and many other loved ones.  Left to cherish her memory are her two children and their spouses, Jerry (Patti) Taylor of Mount Airy and Tammy (Jim) York of Pilot Mountain; her siblings, Donald Joyce and Bernard Joyce; her grandchildren, Jeb Taylor of Kernersville, Sarah Ann (Blake) Sawyers of Durham, Taylor (Kelsie) York of Raleigh, Johnson (Jessica) York of Pilot Mountain, Thomas (Angela) York of Wake Forest, Andrea (Joel) Lange of Arlington, VA, and Amanda Miller of Raleigh; and her nine great-grandchildren.  Virginia’s family will visit with friends on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy.  The funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM in the Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. Terry Coe officiating.  Memorials may be made to the Indian Grove Family Cemetery Fund, c/o Norma Bowen, 200 Cook School Road, Pilot Mountain, NC  27041.