Joyce Ivey Dennard, 74, passed from this earth to her home in heaven on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Treutlen County.  Her quiet battle with cancer since 2008 has come to an end.

Joyce was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 20, 1942, to Thomas Wright Ivey and Julia Sue Potts Ivey.  She married Richard Marion Dennard on August 9, 1964, at First Baptist Church, Conyers, Georgia.  They would celebrate fifty-three years on August 9th.  Two children were born to this marriage.  They and their families survive Joyce:  Blakely Sutton Dennard, his wife, Adele, and children, Richard Jackson (R.J.) Dennard, his wife, Megan of Pooler, Georgia, and Hunter Nicole Dennard of Suwanee, Georgia; Krista Dennard Sanders, her husband, Jeff, and children, Julia Karis Sanders and Jeffrey Brighton Sanders of Fort Worth, Texas. She is also survived by her younger brother, George Thomas Ivey and his wife, Patsy, of Brinkley, Arkansas.

Joyce was a graduate of Tift College where she earned a double major in Chemistry and Biology. Joyce worked as a biologist at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta (specifically dissecting mosquitoes) before moving to Soperton in December of 1971 to help her husband establish Dennard Drugs.  Not only was Joyce the administrator behind the scenes but also the one who added beauty and class to the front of the store in the way of gifts, jewelry and china.  She was also a homemaker, creating meals and traditions for her family to enjoy and to remember and cherish for years to come.  Joyce's main desire was to be with her family and friends and to quietly love them as best she knew how.  A very close second would be her love of travel, experiencing new places and new adventures.

We have always said, "Momma is always sitting on GO!"  Just say the word, and she would pack a bag, whether it was to chaperone a youth ski trip with the Pournelles; go on a spring break adventure with her college-aged kids; make a trip to Texas or to a random baseball stadium; enjoy a weekend of fishing with her husband and their friends; or even fly across the world. A close third would be watching her children, and later her grandchildren, participate in all their activities.  We can all attest that she sat through her share and many others' share of baseball games— throwing in plenty of baton performances, football games, cheer competitions, ballet recitals, soccer games, softball games, and piano recitals. She taught the Mixed Adults Sunday School class at First Baptist Church Soperton for fifteen years with much help from her friend, Brenda Brown, who filled in many times.

Joyce, with her bright smile and kind heart, taught us many things— too many to name here.  To be married to her, reared by her, befriended by her, loved by her were gifts. Her cancer did not slow her down until the last month or two, and even then, everyone thought she would "bounce back."  She taught us how to face difficulty with faith, not fear, and with courage, not complaint.   She was beloved by her family and friends, who will miss her every day.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21).

The celebration of her life will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, Georgia, at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 30, with Pastor Jeff Sanders officiating. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be R.J. Dennard, Brighton Sanders, Jeff Watts, Hugh Gillis, Jr., Wade Clark, and Mark Bowers.

Members of the Mixed Adults Sunday School class will serve as an honorary escort.

A visitation will be held at the funeral home Saturday, July 29, from 6—8 p.m.