Joy Faye Smith Tilley Thompson

Faye was preceded in death by her first husband Leon W. Tilley and her late husband Lauil S. Thompson, the love of her life. Her parents John L. and Mildred Smith. Her beloved grandson Andrew Thompson, her son-in-law, Dean Perryman; her sister Frances Smith Nichols and her brother Dan Smith. Her in-laws, Vester Watts and Grace Tilley and Gartrell and Julia Belle Thompson and her brother-in-law Rodney Thompson. Her adopted sister Sandy Furhman; and a host of heavenly saints with open arms ready to welcome her home.

Faye is survived by her children Gregg and Candi Thompson, Joy Tilley Perryman, Chris and Kathy Thompson, and Joan and Lamar Coker. Her grandchildren Morgan and Dylan Cornelius, Jacob and Katherine Coker; Brinley Thompson; Peyton Coker; Emma Thompson; and Brooklyn Thompson. Nana was the name she loved best. Her precious great-grandchildren, Bryson and Addie Kate Cornelius. She leaves behind three sisters: Mary Jackson, Martha Smith, and Sarah Payne. The bonds the sisters had were like iron, forged in fire and unbreakable. Three precious brothers-in- law, Ronnie Jackson, Ernie Payne, and Jimmy Thompson. She leaves behind beloved sisters-in-law, Elaine Smith and Becky Thompson.

Faye also leaves behind treasured nieces and nephews, Donna Fulenwinder, Ken Nichols (LaChrista), Danny Jackson (Jennifer), Tracy Friedburg (John), Joseph Payne (Carrie), Chris Payne, John Smith, Michele Smith Thompson, Lisa Bailey (Justin), Dantley Thompson (Christi), and Summer Collins (Tripp). So many great nieces and nephews and cousins that if named individually we might still be naming names when that trumpet sounds again. They were all loved so fiercely by their Aunt Faye and her absence will sit in their hearts until we all meet again. The love she had for her family was the thing that legends were made of. Family reunions and genealogical research were two of her most favorite things.

Until her health precluded her from attending, Faye was a highly active member of Southside Baptist Church. Over the years she held many positions at the church, serving on the treasury committee, teaching Sunday School, leading youth activities and leading the Bible Drills that she so dearly loved. Faye loved participating in the church’s annual Trunk or Treat and somehow always got Lauil to go along with her choice of costume, whether it was Lucy and Ricky or Robin Hood and Maid Marion. She helped with the sets and costumes for the church’s Easter cantatas and once took the role of the woman who brought the blind man to Jesus. She convinced Lauil to play the blind man and made him

take off his glasses. She took hers off too and that was a very realistic trip up the aisle of the church.

Faye spent much of her working career as a church secretary, working at White Springs Baptist Church and Rainbow Presbyterian Church before moving to work with the Etowah County Health Department from which she retired.

Faye was an artist and a craftsperson. She loved making things with her hands. Her hand knitted and crocheted scarves and gloves have kept many a person warm in the cold of the winter. There are many Bibles that hold one of her crocheted cross bookmarks. Her family and friends benefitted over the years from her talents and skills.

Faye loved history and genealogy and playing cards. Over the years she served on the committee for the WALK THROUGH TIME tour at Forrest Cemetery and worked with the Etowah Count Historical Society to preserve and document the history of this place. For many years she had a weekly canasta game at the Gadsden Senior Activity Center on Broad Street. She delighted in coming home with all the quarters!

She was a member in good standing for many years of the Red Hat Society. She loved dressing in purple and red and just socializing with the other ladies. As the poem says, “I shall go out in my slippers in the rain and Learn to spit.”

Faye loved to travel and time spent at the beach was always a fun time for her. She loved to go to the Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove was a special place for her. But she could be just as happy traveling up 278 to Altoona, the place she grew up in and where she loved spending time at her family’s home place.

The family wishes to acknowledge special friends; Nancy Lovvorn, her Tuesday card group at the Gadsden Senior Center, her Grace Sunday School class at Southside Baptist, Ila Burton, and Karen Johnson.

The family would like to acknowledge and say thank you to Gentiva Hospice, Karen Johnson, Jane Bowman, Katie Snell, Melissa Green, and the sitters from Angels of Healing, Specifically, Sherlana Fortenberry, Erica Creel, Ariea Vickers, Cyndi Simmons, Laurie Jones, Stephanie Watson, and Angela Ford.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Collier-Butler Funeral Home. The family will accept friends from 12:00 PM until the hour of the service in the chapel. Faye will be laid to rest at Southside Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Coker, Dylan Cornelius, Ken Nichols, Danny Jackson, John Smith, Joseph Payne, and Chris Payne.

Honorary Pallbearers will be John Friedburg, Justin Bailey, Warren Fuhrman, and Jimmy Sewell.

The family is secure in the knowledge that Faye is in her Heavenly home and is reunited with her soulmate, Lauil and that she is enjoying the rest she so well earned. Matthew 11:28, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Rest now Mother, until we see you again.