Mary Joyce Ponder

Mary Joyce Harris Ponder passed away on January 21, 2018 in the Palliative and Comfort Care Unit at UAB in Birmingham, AL. She was 84 years old.

Mary Joyce was born on September 13, 1933 in Anniston, AL to Grace Stephens Harris and William Allen Harris. The family later relocated to Birmingham where they became members of South Highland Presbyterian Church. Mary Joyce attended Phillips High School where she met her lifelong love, John B. Ponder; they graduated together from Phillips in 1951. She attended University of Alabama where she established many lifelong friendships as a member of ADPi sorority and graduated in 1955 with a degree in hospital dietetics. John and Mary Joyce married on June 5, 1954 and raised their four children (John Mark [deceased], Stephen Allen, Elizabeth Ann, and Melinda Joyce) in their family home in Mountain Brook, AL. Mary Joyce dedicated her life to her immediate and extended family.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Mary Joyce was a dedicated and faithful member of South Highland Presbyterian Church (SHPC) where she and John were members of the Builders and Inquirers Sunday school classes. She served in many volunteer positions at the church over the years to include being a Sunday school and vacation bible school teacher; receptionist; chair of the Martha’s Guild linen and silver committee; and a founding member of the flower committee. Mary Joyce was especially proud of her 10 years of service as SHPC’s archivist where she earned the loving nickname of “The Scrapbook Lady.”

She was also a life member of the Presbyterian Women and long-time member of the Cherokee Forest Garden Club. Mary Joyce loved history and was an active member of the Genealogy Society; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); Huguenot Society of Alabama; Jamestowne Society; and Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). She served in leadership and officer roles in these civic, faith-based, and historical organizations.

Mary Joyce is predeceased in death by her parents, Grace and Allen Harris and her son, John Mark Ponder. She is survived by her loving husband, John B. Ponder, DMD, three children, two son/daughter in-laws, 9 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren as follows:

Stephen Allen Ponder (Tracey) [granddaughters Sarah Elizabeth and Mary Caroline Ponder];

Elizabeth Ann Ponder [granddaughter Andrea Clair Colbert Ziglar (Anthony); great grandsons Camden Noble and Grant Andrew Ziglar], [grandson Jameson “Jamie” Allen Colbert (Kate); great granddaughters Sarah Grace and Vivian Jane Colbert], and [grandson Sandar Harris Johnson];

Melinda Joyce Ponder Goode (Dale); [grandsons John Murphy, Mark Patrick, Stephen Augustus “Gus” and Samuel “Sam” Ponder Goode].

A graveside service for the family will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, AL. For friends and loved ones to honor and celebrate her life, a memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm at South Highland Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to South Highland Presbyterian Church at 2035 Highland Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205 or a charity of your choice.