Joyce Lamar Moncrief Harrell Blake

Joyce Lamar Moncrief Harrell Blake passed away at her home in Hayneville, Alabama, on November 1, at the age of 95. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 1, 1930, Joyce moved to Lowndes County at the age of three and made it her lifelong home for the next ninety-two years. She was the beloved daughter of James Alva Moncrief of Letohatchee and Rebecca Lucile Stockard Moncrief of Fleta. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her cherished cousin, Honey Moncrief Holmes, who was like a sister to her; her first husband, Walter Elbert Harrell, Jr.; her in-laws, Walter Elbert and Gladys Sanders Harrell; her second husband, Thomas Benjamin Blake, and her stepdaughter, Annie Blake Mitchell. A bright and dedicated student, Joyce attended elementary school in Letohatchee and graduated from Hayneville High School in 1947. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo). From an early age, Joyce aspired to be a teacher —of Sunday School, of academics, and dance —and she fulfilled each of these dreams with grace and enthusiasm. She taught Sunday School at both the Letohatchee and Hayneville Baptist Churches. Her teaching career covered 51 years and began at Hayneville High School, where she taught for sixteen years, then continued at Lowndes Academy for thirty-five years. At Lowndes Academy, she was also the devoted sponsor of the Rebelettes Dance Team. On June 12, 1954, Joyce married Walter Elbert Harrell, Jr. Together they spent nearly forty-seven years on their Hayneville farm, raising registered Black Angus cattle and contributing to W.E. Harrell and Sons Beekeepers. They were instrumental in the founding and growth of Lowndes Academy and were active members of both Hayneville and Letohatchee Baptist Churches. Walter passed away in March 2001 after a brief illness. In 2002, Joyce married retired Colonel Thomas Benjamin Blake. Together, they enjoyed golf tournaments with 60 Plus Golf, gardening, church activities, and cheering on Lowndes Academy teams. Colonel Blake passed away in 2021. Joyce remained active throughout her life. She was a member the Captain William Bibb Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Alabama Angus Association, and Lowndes County Historical Society. She volunteered at the Hayneville Cemetery, enjoyed reading and playing bridge, and delighted in supporting her grandchildren with school projects. She found joy in traveling, shopping, and discovering new restaurants and experiences.

Survivors left to cherish her memory include her children: John Elbert (Ann) Harrell; Rebecca Sanders Harrell; and Susan Harrell (Marty) Mann; and her stepdaughters, Sarah (Bill) Meadows and Becky Kellum. Her grandchildren include Margaret Ann Harrell; James Wesley (Aeron) Harrell; Davis Martin Mann, and Trenton Harrell Mann. She was also blessed with and loved as her own 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren that she shared with Colonel Blake.

Joyce lived a long, fulfilling, and joyful life. Her favorite scriptures were John 14:1—“Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me”—and the 23rd Psalm, both of which brought her deep comfort and peace.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hayneville Christian Church on Sunday, November 9, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

• Hayneville Cemetery, 48 Streety Road, Hayneville, Al 36040

• Hayneville Christian Church, P.O. Box 173, Hayneville, AL 36040

• Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, 2681 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham, AL 35216