Joyce Lee Blackley

Joyce Lee Blackley of Clayton, North Carolina passed peacefully from her earthly home to her heavenly home on August 11, 2025, at the age of 86. Joyce Marie Lee was born in Clayton on October 7, 1938, to the late T.R. and Lena Lee. She was their only daughter and grew up on the family farm with her parents and ten brothers. The Lee children were taught to value family, hard work and God. Going to church on Sunday mornings was a given, and Joyce gave her life to Jesus at an early age.

Joyce graduated from Clayton High School in 1957 and met the love of her life, Ernest Blackley, in 1958. They were married in 1959 and had two children, Linda and Mike who blessed them with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joyce loved her family and enjoyed cooking Sunday lunch for them, spending weekends with them at Atlantic Beach, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and dance recitals. After her mother’s passing, Joyce became the matriarch of the Lee family. It was important to her to keep the family close and make sure the traditions that her parents started continued. She and her brothers kept their homeplace maintained so the family could gather there for Christmas dinners and family reunions which they still do to this day.

In 1974. Joyce started working for the Methodist Conference in Raleigh as a secretary. When a new printing press was purchased, they asked if any of the employees were interested in learning to operate it. Joyce jumped at the chance, a decision that would change the course of her career. Three years later, she started her own printing business, Blackley’s Printing, in her home garage. In 1987, she moved her business to Main Street Clayton. Joyce ran a successful business and continued to work well into her 80s until her health no longer allowed. People would often ask her why she did not retire, and her response was that she worked not because she had to, but because she loved being around people.

Joyce did love downtown Clayton and its people. She thrived on being involved in her community and helping others. She served as Secretary of Cooper Middle School PTA, served in various capacities as a member of the Woman’s Club of Clayton, the Clayton Chamber of Commerce (President in 1980), the Clayton Rotary Club, the Halcyon Book Club, the Clayton Downtown Development Association, and Women in Networking. Joyce has been a member of Clayton First Baptist Church for 50 years where she served as Sunday School Teacher, Girls In Action/Acteens Director, and Deacon.

Joyce received numerous awards for her community service including Citizen of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and North Carolina Main Street Champion, just to name a few. She and Ernest started the first Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Clayton in 1990 that has grown into an annual townwide event that brings thousands of people to Main Street to celebrate the Christmas season.

Of all the titles and accolades Joyce has received in her lifetime, none can compare to “Child of God”. She has never waivered in her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior. That is why we rejoice that she is now healed, happy, and lives forever with her Lord and the saints who have gone before her.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Linda Blackley Edwards and husband, Philip and her son, Michael Lee Blackley and wife, Ronda. She was a proud Grandma to five grandchildren, Ashley Blackley Lane (Jordan), Brooke Edwards (fiancé Walker Dunnavant), Blake Edwards (Andrea), Austin Blackley, and Drew Edwards (Sarah), and step-grandson, Garrett Norris (Denielle); three great-granddaughters, Finnlie Lane, Palmer Lane, and Nora Joyce Edwards, and step-great-granddaughters, Ava, Lovey-Jean and Oaklyn Norris. Joyce is also survived by brothers, George Lee (Susan), Fred Lee (Texie), and Hubert Lee (Bonnie), along with many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and extended family.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Lee Blackley, parents, Theodore Roosevelt Lee and Lena Adeline Faison Lee, brothers Ray Lee, Proctor Lee, Ernest Lee, Troy Lee, Sr., Raymond Lee, Percy Lee and Ricky Lee.

Friends and family are welcome to gather at Joyce’s home to offer condolences and share memories Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clayton, NC. The committal service will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Clayton, NC.