April 8, 1935 - Jan. 27, 2024
Born in Hamlin, Texas, in 1935. She married her childhood sweetheart, Glenn, in 1952. She was the first in her family to receive Christ as her savior. Joy went on to convert her husband, Glenn, who then became a minister, and she then served as a minister’s wife for 48 years and helped Glenn to start several new churches in many states. Joy led nearly all her family and anyone she could to know Christ. They landed, resided and ministered in Tow, Texas, for 38 years. She was a member and served on the board in a variety of positions with the Buchanan Lakes Art Guild, as well as the Texas Homemakers Association.
Four years after the passing of her husband, Glenn, she moved to Pagosa Springs, Colo., to live with her son, Teryl, and his family. She quickly made new friends and joined the Pagosa Piecemakers Quilt Guild. Joy was thrilled to become a Daughter of the Republic of Texas after her daughter in law researched her ancestry and found out that Joy’s great-great-grandfather, Warren Angus Ferris, not only lived in the Republic of Texas but mapped the layout of Dallas streets working as a surveyor for the Republic of Texas. She was able to travel to Dallas to see his highway marker and walk on his land.
Joy is survived by her daughter, Debra (Dicky) Wills; son, Teryl (Delani) Smith; son-in-law, Dwight Wilfong; grandchildren, Rachel (Chris) Gollnick, Naomi Johnson, Johnathan Morris, Ryan Smith, Clint (Blair) Smith, Cody (Amy) Smith, Nicholas Wilfong, Chase (Geo) Wilfong, Stormie (Clint) Martin and Nicole (Ben) Mitchell; great grandchildren, Zachary Grier, Draven (Ariel) Johnson, Trinity Johnson, Noah Espinosa, Victoria Espinosa, Blaiklie Morris, JD Morris and Barrett Smith; and great-great-grandchild, Athena Espinosa.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Smith; daughter, Paige Wilfong; sister, Geleta Lemos; and brother, Kenneth Day.
A memorial service for Joy will be held this summer in Tow, Texas, where she will rest with her beloved husband, Glenn, and beside her daughter, Paige.
