Ethel Joyce Oates Culp

Joyce Oates Culp was born on August 2nd, 1933 on a farm near Maplesville, AL. To help support the family farm, Joyce and her 3 sisters participated in all the farm chores such as milking cows, picking cotton, bailing hay, shelling peas, and many others. She attended Isabella School through 12th grade where she met the love of her life in the 7th grade, John Culp. She was active in the Beta Club, and was head cheerleader for basketball and football, and was Salutatorian of her graduating class of 1951. She attended Alabama College, later renamed Montevallo University, for two years, before she married John in December 1953. When John joined the Army, Joyce followed him to Indianapolis, IN, where he was assigned for a year, and later to Norfolk, Virginia for his final year of Army service during the Korean War era. After John’s Army service, they moved to Tallassee, AL, where Joyce worked as a secretary in Montgomery to support John’s education pursuit at Auburn. Joyce was a life-long Auburn fan and tried not to miss watching a football or basketball game. Her family would say that she could be very vocal if Auburn was playing and enjoyed being an Auburn fan until the end of her life, War Eagle!

Karen, their first child, was born 9 months after John graduated from Auburn. Joyce moved with John to Cullman, AL where their second daughter, Johndra, was born in 1963. John and Joyce moved to Florence, AL in 1964 where John worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Muscle Shoals. Joyce spent the next 55 years living in Florence with John and raising their two daughters. Joyce was very attentive and active in raising her two daughters, including getting them to school, running them to many afterschool activities, helping to lead their Girl Scout troop, hosting their friends for sleepovers, and serving as VP of the PTA of their school. She was always available to serve those in need in her community by providing food, visiting, and helping with transportation to appointments. Later in her life, when the girls were older, Joyce decided to go back to college and finish her degree in Art and Home Economics. She was a proud graduate from the University of North Alabama in December of 1979.

As John was an avid golfer, Joyce joined him on the golf course and enjoyed traveling with friends to many regional golf courses over the years. After her grandchildren were born, Joyce and John were doting grandparents, making many trips to Huntsville, to attend plays, swim meets and soccer games.

One remarkable thing about Joyce is that she was an artist at heart and always had an eye for all the beautiful colors and designs around her. Joyce spent many hours decorating her home with beautiful colors and art. She worked for a while as an assistant to an interior decorator where she shared her love of color and design.

Joyce was a devout believer in her Lord and savior Jesus Christ. She was a long-time member of Edgemont United Methodist Church in Florence where she had a deep understanding of the bible and taught Sunday School for many years. Even in her later years, if asked by her family to give a prayer at dinner time, Joyce would deliver a very spirit filled and meaningful dinner prayer in praise of her Lord and savior.

Following John’s passing in April 2022, Joyce moved to be closer to her two daughters in Santa Rosa Beach Florida. Although not as active as in prior years, Joyce left a significant impact on those around her, particularly her very precious caregivers.

Joyce was pre-deceased by her parents Marvin Roscoe and Pheba Hall Oates, her sisters Clara Oates Veazey, and Lorrine Oates Williams. She is survived by her sister, Mary Oates Phillips, her daughters Karen (Kay) Jacobson (David), and Johndra Culp (Jill), her grandsons John David Jacobson (Nicole) and Benjamin Jacobson (Catherine), and her great grandchildren, Rawson, Elora, Cora, and Hugo Jacobson.

Her graveside service and will be at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL on Friday, March 13th at 11:45 AM, with a reception following at the Montevallo First United Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the Chapel at The Blake at Miramar Beach, FL on Saturday, March 21st at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The American Cancer Society, or Vitas Healthcare Hospice of Panama City, FL.