Joyce Odum Ference

Joyce Odum Ference, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Born on February 8, 1932 in Brunswick, she was a lifelong resident of Glynn County and an active supporter of the community. She was a 1950 graduate of Glynn Academy.

Joyce was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Brunswick. She served on the church staff as Visitation Coordinator, Membership Assistant, and Secretary of Membership, Evangelism and Pastoral Care. She also served the church as a member of the Administrative Board. She was active with the Altar Guild and Homebound Communion, and coordinated the Keenagers program for many years. She was a member of the Open Door Sunday School class, United Methodist Women, and the Mary Martha Fellowship.

When her sons were school age, she was an especially active community volunteer. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and President of the Glynn County PTA Council. She was a Mrs. Golden Isles and a recipient of the Brunswick Junior Woman’s Club Young Woman of the Year award. In later years she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Brunswick Community Concert Association.

Joyce also particularly loved entertaining and cooking for others, especially family. Her family dinners were awaited with anticipation and always remembered.

Joyce will be remembered by family and friends for her dedication to her family and community, her attention to detail, her kind spirit, her lifelong faith, and her loving heart.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, James Ernest Odum and Winnie Lee China Odum; her step-mother, Annie Ruth Odum; brother James Ernest Odum, Jr.; husbands, Ralph A. Merck and George M. Ference; and niece Debbie Odum Ragsdale.

Surviving family members include her two sons, Brian Merck (wife Kim) of Brunswick, Ga., and Robert Merck (wife Kathy) of Kingsland, Ga.; five grandchildren, Taylor Kattukaran (husband Anish) of New York, N.Y., Jesse Merck (wife Emily) of Yulee, Fla., Matthew Merck of Arlington, Va., Allison Hand (husband David) of Kingsland, Ga, Bradley Arbo (wife Katie) of Woodstock, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, Viola, Ahaan, Barry, Evelyn, Ridge, and Mattie; sister-in-law Sylvia Odum; nephew Charles Odum (wife Ronda), niece Mary Odum Griswell (husband Anthony), and nephew-in-law Carl Ragsdale, and their families; stepchildren George Ference (wife Shannon), Ruth Ference (husband Frank George), Bruce Ference (wife Marguerite), Jean Ference (husband Robert Freedline), and Norma Rainwater (husband Johnny Garner); ten step-grandchildren; and sixteen step-great-grandchildren.

Her family, friends and community will remember her together at First United Methodist Church on Norwich Street, Brunswick at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 7.

The family is grateful to all of Joyce’s caregivers at Addington Place of Brunswick and to Hearth Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1415, Brunswick, GA 31521. www.edomillerandsons.com