Joyce Jnell Childrey

Joyce Jnell Childrey, 75 of Crystal Springs, passed away Sept. 22nd at Merit Health in Jackson, MS. She was the oldest of three children of T.J. and Opal (Herndon) Thomas, born December 28, 1944 in Gladewater, TX. Joyce grew up there in a country home where she enjoyed cooking and reading. Moving from Texas to Southwest MS, she graduated high school at Brookhaven in the early 60s and attended Co-Lin Community College where she earned certification as a medical technologist. Joyce worked at local hospitals in Brookhaven and Monticello for a few years before opting for better paying travel positions in her field. She enjoyed travelling and working in different areas,  which she did for several years until her retirement while working in Roxborough, NC. She is remembered as a sweet and loving family woman. A Christian and Baptist by faith, Joyce enjoyed reading her Bible and other books in her spare time, along with Gunsmoke and The Virginian on tv. She loved gardening and canning vegetables, but her biggest joy in life was her grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Joyce was preceded by her parents, T.J. and Opal Thomas; her sister Barbara Magee, and two sons, Stevie and Jeffery. Left to cherish her memories are her son, Scotty (Deedee) Prather of Crystal Springs, and her daughter, Cindy (Gabe) Newman of Pensacola, FL; with her sister Linda Jenkins of Houston, TX. Joyce leaves a legacy of six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, several extended family members, and countless co-workers and friends made through the years in all the areas she lived and worked. Her final wishes were to be cremated, which her family is honoring. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Childers family in their time of need, asking everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.