Joyce Wilcox Barlow

Joyce Wilcox Barlow, 67, of Lawndale, NC, went to home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, December 4, 2022.

Born in Caldwell County, NC on September 8, 1955, she was the daughter of the late Eller Wilcox and Joann Wilcox. A pastor’s wife, Joyce loved Jesus with all her heart and faithfully served beside her husband in all areas of ministry.

Joyce always had a love for children and working with children. Her greatest calling was teaching children and youth. Later in her career she would work with special needs children and adults. She worked as a teacher assistant and a child care teacher, even operating her own home daycare in Durham, NC. For seventeen years Joyce was a one-on-one assistant in the Burke County Schools with special needs children and then with Signature Day Program in Morganton. She impacted many children’s lives.

Joyce was gifted by God to create. She loved crafts and could look at a design and recreate it. She also made her own designs. There was nothing she couldn’t do. Joyce took great joy in scrapbooking and designing/creating cards.

Joyce had a great love for people and had a gift for making friends. She was a beacon of the light and love of Christ. Next to Jesus, her devotion was to her husband and immediate family. Her grandson, Aiden, was the apple of her eye. Joyce loved family gatherings or just visiting her parents and siblings. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. The gathering of her parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews lit up her life.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Allan Barlow; daughter-in-law, Melissa Barlow; grandson, Aiden Barlow; sisters, Janet Carver (Don) and Brenda Lyday (Beau); brothers, David Wilcox (Melissa) and Billy Wilcox; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Joyce was reunited in heaven with her son, Andrew Barlow.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, December 9, 2022 at Sossoman Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Lawndale with Revs. Tony Johnson and Jim Kilby officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 8173 Old NC 18, Lawndale, NC 28090 or to Carolina Caring, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.