Joyce Middleton Wilcox

Joyce Evelyn (Middleton) Wilcox, age 74, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, April 30, 2023 Born October 5, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts to her parents Benjamin and Evelyn Middleton. Joyce lived in Roxbury, MA until age 9, when the family moved to Randolph, MA. There she met her two friends, Mary Penney and Kathleen (Winston) Allaire, who remained friends to the end. In 5 th grade she learned to play the flute at school, which began a lifelong love of music. Throughout her school years, she played in the marching band, and in 1965 she won first solo flute position at the Southeastern Band Masters Association competition. In high school she was also inducted into the local group of Rainbow Girls and attended First Congregational Church where she participated in a marching drill team. Joyce always knew she wanted to work in the medical field, and after graduation in 1966 she attended Bryant & Stratton Business School and Northeastern University graduating as a Radiologic Technologist. She later changed careers when an opening for a Medical Transcriptionist presented itself and became her life’s work and fulfillment for 35 years, retiring at age 68. Joyce married in 1970 and gave birth to her two loving daughters, Lauren Michelle and Vicki Dawn, of whom no mother could be more proud. After a move to Plymouth, MA, Joyce expanded her education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration through Anna Maria College, in Cape Cod, MA graduating with honors at age 40. During that time she met her future husband, Chris Wilcox, and after Lauren’s graduation from high school, the family all moved to Apopka, Florida. Chris and Joyce married on April 20, 1991 and honeymooned at the Florida Keys on their Gold Wing motorcycle towing a camper! They enjoyed many years of riding the bike together until a serious accident in 2015. In Florida they met a couple who invited them to the First Christian Church of Orlando. There Chris and Joyce started a kitchen ministry that culminated in providing a full dinner every Wednesday night before Bible study for the congregation, a service which they enjoyed providing for many years. During the years of 2000 – 2004 the family slowly relocated into the Greenville, SC area. Family has always meant everything to Joyce, and having her daughters close by was a tremendous comfort and joy. Chris and Joyce soon joined Woodruff Road Christian Church, which became their extended family. Joyce has served on the Missions Committee, including two mission trips to the American Indian Christian Mission in Arizona and participating in an Emergency Food Bank during COVID. Her love of music drew her to join the Choir and Praise Team, and she also participated in the Fellowship Ministry, Bread of Life Ministry, and Ladies Bible Study. Joyce was pre-deceased by her half-brothers: John Robert Middleton and Benjamin Franklin Middleton Jr. She is survived by her husband, Christopher J. Wilcox, her daughters, Lauren M. Nettles [and her husband, David Nettles] of Anderson, SC and Vicki D. Wilcox of Savannah, GA, granddaughter Shayla B. Butler of Savannah, GA, [step-grandsons Shawn Orvis of SC and Alex Nettles of NY], [nephews Shane Middleton of FL and Shawn Middleton of FL], cousins Janet L. Benson of CT and Robert Clark of the Philippines. Please join us in celebrating her life the morning of Saturday, May 13 th , 2023 at Woodruff Road Christian Church, 20 Bell Road, Greenville, SC 29607. Memorial Service to begin at 11:00 AM (EST) with visitation and lunch to follow. Real-time remote Memorial Service attendance will be available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIgDuVTeFN8 In Memoria: Joyce and her family kindly ask for a donation to their church’s building fund in lieu of flowers. Woodruff Road Christian Church suffered the loss of their worship sanctuary to a fire in 2000. The building fund was established to one day rebuild the sanctuary for the congregation to enjoy once more. Please visit: https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/WRCC

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Joyce Middleton Wilcox

October 5, 1948 - April 30, 2023