Joyce Regena Petty

“Seldom has God given so much to so many people through one woman.”

In the perfect timing of our Heavenly Father, He saw fit to usher Joyce into eternal healing on June second, 2023, in the 66th year of her life. Her graduation to heaven reminds us that much of life is uncertain, but eternity is sure.

Joyce Regena Petty’s sunrise was June 9, 1956, in Chatham, Virginia. She was the third child of Helen and William Petty Jr. Joyce was educated in the Pittsylvania County School System and, upon graduating, obtained an Associate degree in early childhood education from the Danville Community College. She later received a two-year bible degree from the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church Bible College in Washington, DC.

Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord at an early age while attending the Riceville Missionary Baptist Church and later, upon heeding the call of God to experience more of the Lord, transitioned her membership to the New Jerusalem Pentecostal Faith Church of Java, Virginia, the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church of Washington DC, and finally the White Oak Worship Center of Danville, Virginia until the time of her passing. She continued her walk with the Lord for over 60 years, remaining a faithful member and leader within each local church she joined, often serving in many roles and positions such as church choir president, senior and youth usher ministry president, youth and young adult Sunday school teacher, and greeter.

In the early spring of 1995, Joyce married Thomas Jerome Snow of Capital Heights, Maryland and to this union, one son was born: Samuel Christian Petty.

Joyce enjoyed a full life of traveling, working, and serving others before retiring at the age of 53. She was employed by the Basset and Walker Sewing Company (1975-1985), the District of Columbia Department of Public Works (1985-1999), and Schrader Bridgeport International (1999-2011).

Joyce was known for a fiery, feisty, and joyful personality and could often be heard declaring her favorite phrases, “I ain’t gone let nobody run over-top of me!” and “I might just give them a piece of my mind!” She was a shining example of perseverance through illness, respect, and constant joy.

Although Joyce has graduated into the eternal presence of the Lord for all eternity, her legacy lives on through the lives of so many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and William Petty Jr., and her brother Jerome Petty (Donna) of Clinton, Maryland.

She is survived by her son, Samuel Petty of Lynchburg, Virginia, three brothers, Eugene (Glenda) of Laurel, Maryland, William “Ronnie” (Angela) of Java, Virginia, and Marty of Charlotte, North Carolina; two aunts, Mary Petty-Amey of Brandywine, Maryland, Odelia Boykin of Brooklyn, New York, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, three special sisters, Doris (Ebraheem) Dixon, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dorothy Williams of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Sylvia (Mike) Stone of AltaVista, Virginia; and many more family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2023, at Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg. Interment will follow at Tree of Life Cemetery.

A Celebration of Joyce’s Life will be held at 12:00 p.m. at All Peoples Church, 727 Old Graves Mill Road, Friday, June 9, 2023, with Pastor Jeff Crawford officiating.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.