Joyce Niedell (nee Rogers) Wooldridge, 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from her home in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was surrounded by those she loved including her husband of 71 years, Dr. Glyn Wooldridge, their son, Tyree, his wife, Kelly, and Donna Wright, who was Joyce’s caretaker and dear friend over the last four years.
Joyce was born in Texas on June 12, 1934, to Oran and Maude Rogers. She is survived by one brother, Kenneth of Olney, Texas and her grandchildren, Beth Hofstadter of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kim Rees of Richmond, Virginia.
Joyce graduated from Newcastle High School in 1952 and went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.
She and her family moved to Lynchburg in 1980 from Newfoundland, Canada when her husband accepted a leadership position in the Mathematics Department of then, Liberty Baptist College. Joyce taught piano at Lynchburg Christian Academy and from her studio at their home. A longtime member of Thomas Road Baptist Church, she sang in the choir and shared her gift of music for most of those years. She became an active member of the Lynchburg Music Teachers Association, serving as President and Director of the Music Festival. She also served as an officer in the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs.
The influence of this wonderful Christian lady was felt far and wide, but nowhere more significantly than in the lives of the hundreds of music students she taught. She will be greatly missed. God bless you, Joyce.
The funeral will be held in the Pate Chapel of Thomas Road Baptist Church beginning at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 29 followed by a graveside ceremony at Fort Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at noon, preceding the service on Monday in Pate Chapel.
Those who wish to honor Joyce's memory are invited to make memorial contributions to Thomas Road Baptist Church at www.trbc.org.
