Joyce Tully

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that God has called another servant to His heavenly choir.

Rebecca "Joyce" (Edwards) Tully began the rest of her eternity on March 3, 2025. She began her earthly life in Kannapolis, NC on January 1, 1947, the first child born in Cabarrus County, NC that year!

Joyce grew up in Charlotte, NC, graduating from East Mecklenburg High School. She attended the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She graduated with a BS in Nursing in the first nursing class to complete all four years at the college.

While at the university she met and married Roger Wade Tully, also from the Charlotte area. They were married August 6, 1967. They moved to the Atlanta area in January of 1971 where Joyce eventually worked for the Georgia Mental Health system. She was a major player in the team that brought that system to the Gwinnet County area. Eventually Joyce and Roger relocated from Decatur, GA out to the Gwinnet County area settling in their home in Lawrenceville, GA. They lived there for 37 years before relocating to Cumming, GA. They also raised two wonderful daughters there. Joyce worked as a Registered Nurse, mostly as a Psych nurse for many years until after the birth of their second daughter, when she decided to stay at home and raise the two daughters. After 18 years of spending her days shuffling kids from soccer practice to voice lessons and rehearsals, she decided to go back to school to renew her nursing license. She successfully balanced it all and went back to work for years before her favorite granddaughter was born. She happily spent many a day, enjoying her new role as Nana to her, and then to her two grandsons as well! She loved watching her "grands" in their sporting events, and would never pass up an opportunity to nap in the sun listening to the pounding surf at the beach.

Joyce's faith and her church related activities were foremost in her life after her family. She sat on committees and boards too numerous to mention. She chaired Vacation Bible School several years and especially enjoyed the crafts arena when given a chance.

Several times in VBS she also took on choral and drama challenges, excelling in both. Joyce was very active in the Cursillo/Via de Cristo Movement and the teen version, Teens Encounter Christ. She sat on the boards of both and worked countless weekends.

In her later years the Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child was her passion. She gathered goodies for the Shoe Boxes whenever and wherever the opportunity arose, 12 months a year. She, along with others boxed many a toy, pencil, crayons, or ball to spread the love of Jesus throughout the world.

Joyce was a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a sister-in-law, a nana, but most importantly a sister-in-Christ.

She leaves behind her husband of close to 58 years, Roger, daughters, Stephanie Tully of Fort Mill, SC and Allyson (Mike) Clifford of Cumming, GA, granddaughter, Madelyn Clifford, grandsons, Preston Clifford and Barrett Clifford. She is also survived by her brother Phillip Edwards (Janice), and sisters Marty Thomas (Conway), and Susan Bartenfield (Doug). She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, "Dick" and Florence Edwards, her sister, Peggy, and her brother-in-law, Larry Austin.

On behalf of her family, to honor her passion for the operation Christmas Child/Samaritan's Purse Shoe Boxes, please feel free to consider donating your time or resources to that ministry in her name.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at McDonald and Son Funeral Home at 150 Sawnee Dr., Cumming, GA 30040. Receiving of family and friends for visitation starts at 11am, followed by a service at 1:00pm.