Joyce Martin Pettit

In the early hours of February 8th, 2025, Gwendolyn Joyce Martin Pettit, entered her eternal home in heaven. She was born April 10th, 1932, to Horace and Margaret Holcomb Martin, in the community of Concord, Cherokee County, Texas, the fifth child of six born to HC and Maggie. At the age of seven the family moved to Troup, but continued to attend church at the Concord Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where her father was an Elder, and where Joyce received her grounding in her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After graduating from Troup High School with a passion for education, she broke family tradition and worked her way through Kilgore Jr. College and Bethel College, to graduate with a double major in Religion and English. It was at Bethel where she met a tall, gangly athlete, Bobby Pettit, who, due to having a broken arm, whittled his way into leading the “Homecoming Snake Line” led by the campus cheerleaders, through the streets around town, thus getting to hold the hand of the pretty new cheerleader, Joyce. After graduation, they were married in her parents’ home in Troup, on the “hottest day of the summer”, July 4th, 1953. For a year they taught school in Cooter, Missouri, before Uncle Sam called Bob to join the Army. 1954 was a life changing summer as their daughter was born and seven weeks later, Bob left for basic training in El Paso. The next two years found Joyce and Gwen following Bob to El Paso, Maryland and the Panama Canal Zone before returning to Tyler. In the ensuing years, they bought their first home, attained their Masters degrees from SFA State University, and Joyce found her passion for teaching young students, at Bonner, Orr, Ramey, Rice, and Woods, gaining specialized certifications in Special Education and Reading, before becoming Coordinator of Reading Instruction and then Director of Elementary Education for Tyler ISD.

In 1979, Joyce gained a new and cherish position as Mimi to her one and only grandchild and namesake. She loved reading books with Carolyn and sitting on the pier at Lake Tyler watching her granddaughter, and hosting Carolyn and her friends at the lake for a day of fun. That joy was matched with the birth of each of her great grandchildren.

Upon retirement Joyce and Bob discovered the joys of RVing, wintering in Mission, Texas, for several years and traveling the Gulf Coast, collecting shells, crabbing, and enjoying time together. Then, 13 years ago, Joyce suffered a stroke and Bob assumed the role of her care giver. Due to the stroke, Joyce was diagnosed with dementia. We were blessed in that her dementia primarily affected her short-term memory for she loved revisiting ‘”old” times with family and friends, attending church, reading The Bible, reading books, and riding all over East Texas with her favorite beau. For the past seven and a half years, she and Bob have lived with their daughter so that she could help in caring for both parents. As Joyce’s health declined, she was able to stay at home in familiar surroundings, and with the assistance of Hospice of East Texas, was able to spend her final days at home with Bob and their daughter by her side. She is now in her eternal home, praising her God and Savior “all the day long”.

She was preceded in death and greeted in heaven by her parents, and four siblings, Chester Martin, Lois Riley, Barbara Mayfield McDougal, and Travis Martin. She is survived by her loving husband of 71 years, Robert “Bob” Pettit, her daughter Gwenda Pettit Cooper, her granddaughter Carolyn Howard and her husband Parker, her great-grandchildren, Jack Howard and Sally Howard, her sister Wanda Brooks, and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

She will be missed, but with the assurance of John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”, she will be awaiting our joining her in Heaven.

Instead of flowers the family asks that any donations in her memory be made to Redeemer Presbyterian Church Building Fund (PO Box 132191, Tyler, TX 75713), or The Hospice of East Texas (4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75701), or a Christian Charity of choice.

Joyce Martin Pettit's family will gather to receive friends from 12 until 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15th at Lloyd James Funeral home Chapel, with Memorial services starting at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Ben Wheller, Glynn Mayfield and Parker Howard officiating.