Edna Joyce Dellinger, "Joyce", of Advance, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2024. She was 80 years old and had had a long illness with COPD. Her death came shortly after the death of her youngest son, Mark.

Joyce was born on January 13, 1944, to Sturme and Edna Mae Brooks in Bristol, TN. Her father died fighting in WWII. She never met him, but honored his memory proudly throughout her life. Joyce lived most of her life in NC split between Marion and Advance. She was strikingly beautiful, outgoing and friendly. She never met a stranger and loved all people. Joyce was rarely seen without her sidekick and fur-baby Shih Tzu, Grayson. She grew up with six siblings and was particularly close to her sister, Faye who lovingly cared for and supported her for the last 15 years of her life.

Her interests and talents were varied and included oil painting and bowling. In high school she was a cheerleader and played basketball. She was creative, artistic and energetic. Joyce had a real gift for interior design. It was not surprising to see Joyce with a power tool in her hand planning to knock out a wall in the house or do a major renovation of the kitchen. More than anything however, she was a fiercely devoted mother to Rick and Mark.

Joyce was known to be very intuitive and often had a sense of things before they occurred. She had strong opinions and enjoyed sharing them. Joyce greatly enjoyed hosting large family holiday gatherings and loved a party. She was blessed with a deep Baptist faith and was telling Bible stories to her Hospice team even in her last days.

Joyce is survived by her sisters, Wanda Faye Cresawn and Deborah Jane Wiseman; her son, Rickey G. Dellinger (Marianne); her grandchildren, Adam Christopher Dellinger, Travis Brooks Dellinger, Melissa Dellinger Lemmerman (Carter), and Nicole Lendell Handley (Andrew); and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Roger Allen Brooks, Brenda Carroll Chadwick, Michael Eugene Rasnick, and Phillip Henry Rasnick; and by her son, Mark Allen Dellinger.

In lieu of flowers please, the family requests donations be made to Mountain Valley Hospice (234 N. Lee Street, Yadkinville, NC 27055) who provided Joyce with excellent care and loving support over the last year of her life.

Online condolences www.lambertfuneralhomenc.com