Joyce Rebecca Johnston

It is with heavy hearts and profound love that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Joyce Rebecca Johnston, age 92, of Columbia, Tennessee. Joyce passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with her daughter, LeeAnn, by her side. In the hours before her passing, her family filled her room with stories, laughter, and cherished memories. As thunder rolled across the sky, it felt as though Heaven was announcing the arrival of a beautiful new soul. She is now whole, healed, and at peace.

Joyce was born on August 2, 1933, in Nashville, Tennessee, to John L. and Daisy T. Reasonover. She was one of five beloved children and treasured her family throughout her life.

She married Jim Franklin at a young age, and together they briefly lived in California. After his passing, Joyce returned home to Tennessee, determined to continue her education and build a brighter future.

After graduating from Goodlettsville High School, Joyce married Wesley Johnston, a lightweight boxing champion. The couple moved to the Johnston family farm in Nebraska, where they welcomed two children, Benjamin and Rebecca. During that time, Joyce worked as a telephone switchboard operator and sold polished eggs to help support the family while Wesley attended the University of Nebraska. They later returned to Tennessee, where their daughter, LeeAnn, was born. The couple divorced in the 1970s.

Joyce continued her education by attending Volunteer State Community College and often took evening classes at McGavock High School, sometimes with LeeAnn by her side. She believed that learning never stopped.

A passionate sports enthusiast, Joyce especially loved softball, basketball, bowling, and baseball. She also loved to travel, celebrate her children’s accomplishments, and spend time with family.

Joyce was a true pioneer for girls’ athletics in Middle Tennessee. She founded three separate girls’ softball leagues, creating opportunities for countless young athletes.

The first league began in 1971 at Smith Springs Recreation Center, now known as Una Recreation Park & Community Center, where she also coached LeeAnn’s team.

She later helped establish the Una-Antioch League on land along Mill Creek that had been considered unusable because of frequent flooding. Joyce saw potential where others did not, transforming it into a place where generations of children could play. Today, the area continues to serve the community with athletic fields.

She also founded the Airport League near Briley Parkway and the Vultee Building. What was once a dusty, vacant lot became a thriving gathering place filled with families, vendors, and young athletes. Though the area has since been developed for industry, the memories created there continue to live on.

Joyce dedicated 21 years of service as a Metro Nashville school bus driver. During her career, she created the Metro Bus Rodeo, a driver skills competition and training event designed to improve safety and prepare new drivers. She retired after a car accident ended her driving career.

After retiring from Metro Nashville Public Schools, Joyce continued serving others as a switchboard operator for Nashville Memorial Hospital throughout the 1980s and later for Summit Hospital for several years following her accident in the 1990s.

Joyce never lost her adventurous spirit. She visited 42 states, lived in three, and traveled to 10 countries, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether by airplane, ship, ferry, train, bus, taxi, or even horse and carriage, she embraced every opportunity to see the world and create new memories.

She found joy in life’s simple pleasures. Her hobbies included reading, puzzles, card games, Tri-Dominos, sewing, crocheting, art, gardening, and spending time at the beach. She also enjoyed bowling well into her 70s, earning numerous league championships and trophies along the way.

Joyce was deeply involved in her community and faithfully served through several organizations. She worked with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and was active with Tupperware, Amway, and Herbalife. She faithfully served as a member of Madison Church of Christ, the Little Creek Home Demonstration Club, was Treasurer of the Civitan Club, too many bowling leagues to count, and earned recognition as a member of the Avon President’s Team.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, John L. and Daisy T. Reasonover; her brothers, Richard Reasonover and Harold Reasonover; her first husband, Jim Franklin; her faithful companion Lady Dog and many other beloved family members and friends who welcomed her home.

She is survived by her sisters, Shirley Boyd and Judy King; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Reasonover and Lucy Reasonover; her children, Benjamin Johnston (Connie Prostko), Rebecca Johnston, and LeeAnn West-Malm (Jon Malm); her grandchildren, Jonathan Mays, Joseph Johnston, Lance West (Cassie), Aaron Johnston Adams (Jennifer), Chris Johnston, Landon Malm (Chloe Taft), Elizabeth Malm, and Jonathan Malm; and her cherished great-grandchildren, Dennis Adams, Kaitlyn West, Dakota West, Renleigh Johnston, and newborn McKenna West, Also: Debbie Vavrek, Brian Vavrek (Holly), Ethan and Adalina Vavrek, Halie, Kara and Destiny Adams. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Above all else, Joyce loved her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend whose determination, generosity, and servant’s heart touched the lives of everyone who knew her. Her legacy lives on not only through her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but also through the countless young athletes, students, coworkers, and friends whose lives she helped shape.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1150 Dickerson Road, Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., with the funeral service beginning at 12:00 p.m. Family and friends are invited to attend and share their favorite memories as they celebrate a life so well lived.