Joyce was born October 27, 1934, in Charlotte, NC, daughter of James Jirden Little and Annie Dellinger Little. She was of the Baptist faith and graduated from Berryhill High School. She married “JW” in 1953 at Southside Baptist Church and worked as an executive secretary for several firms, including Atlas Supply Company and Hunter Supply Company, both of Charlotte. Her hobbies included genealogy, bird watching, and gardening. She volunteered with the Find-A-Grave genealogy website for many years.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, John William “JW” Graham, Jr., in 2013, and a daughter-in-law, Betty Rose Lewis-Graham, in 1988. Survivors include her sons, Gerry Keith Graham (Susan) of Charlotte, John William Graham III (Vivian) of Charlotte, and Phillip Eugene Graham (Rita) of York Co., SC; grandsons, Michael Dean Graham (Brandy) and Phillip Eugene Graham, Jr. (Connie); great-grandchildren, Brianna Nichole Graham, Makaylah Destiny Graham, Jenna Leigh Graham, Jason Dakota Graham and Austin Eli Graham; a brother, James Jirden Little, Jr. (Vivian) and nephew, James Jirden Little, III, of Fort McCoy, Florida.
The family will receive friends at 11 AM on Thursday October 4, 2018, at McEwen Funeral Service, 5716 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212. Graveside services will follow at 12 noon at Sharon Memorial Park.
The family requests that memorials be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, P.O. Box 470408, Charlotte NC, 28247, Attn: Development Department. Notes of condolences and encouragement may be left at www.McEwenFS.com.
