Mrs. Joyce Ruth Lasseter Rayburn

Joyce Lasseter Rayburn, longtime resident of Augusta, GA passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Harmony at Five Forks in Simpsonville, SC, at the age of 88. She was born on October 24, 1932 in Cook County, Georgia. Joyce grew up in rural South Georgia, before moving to Thomasville, GA. After graduating high school, she worked as a telephone operator for Southern Bell. She married her husband of 51 years on December 28, 1951.

She worked as a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and baking for her family. She was well known for her delicious chocolate and caramel cakes. Joyce was a proud military wife and enjoyed living in Hawaii and Belgium. Joyce enjoyed gardening and had a “green thumb”. She was always willing to share her plants with family and friends. She canned vegetables and made homemade pickles to share with her friends. She would make jelly from the blueberry bushes in her yard and fig preserves. Joyce was actively involved in Southside Baptist Church serving faithfully in special events, kitchen hospitality, card angels and was the secretary for her Sunday School class. She was an active member for over 50 years and loved her church family.

Joyce is preceded in death by her loving husband, Francis Wallace “Sam” Rayburn; her parents, Crawford Lasseter and Leila O’Quinn Lasseter; brother, George Lassester; and sisters, Mary Eva Nell Mayo and Mattie Lou “Bunch” Gaddy.

She is survived by her son, Burt Rayburn (Ruth) Martinez, GA and daughter, Cecilia Rayburn Sacht (John) Greer, SC.; granddaughters, Erica Gates, Vanessa Jackson (Mark), Christy Headrick (Brandon), Heather Scarborough (Matthew), Kayla Sacht Lanthier (Nicolas), Morgan Sacht Segrin (Tyler), and her only grandson, John Joseph Sacht IV. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Jean Peters, and numerous nieces and nephews which she loved dearly.

The family would like to thank Harmony at Five Forks in Simpsonville, SC, her caregivers, and sitters for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. A special thanks to the wonderful staff at Lutheran Hospice for their special care and support during the last several months.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Southside Baptist Church, 3612 Mike Padgett Hwy, Augusta on Sunday, October 24 at 12:30. This would have been Joyce’s 89th Birthday, but she’ll be celebrating in heaven with her Lord and Savior. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Reverend Wayne Todd will officiate. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2700 Deans Bridge Road.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to Southside Baptist Church or Alzheimer’s Association.