Joyce O. Nesmith

CLAXTON: Joyce Outler NeSmith, 83, passed away August 22, 2020, at Northspring Senior Living, not related to Covid 19. The Montgomery County, GA., native had resided in Claxton since 1957. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Claxton, the Fidelis Sunday School Class and served as a Trustee and was on the Church History Committee for a number of years. She received her early education at Alston Elementary School, was a graduate of Mt. Vernon-Ailey High School, Brewton Parker College and earned a Masters Degree and an Educational Specialist Degree from Georgia Southern University. Joyce taught in the Savannah-Chatham Public School System one year and later retired from the Evans County School System as Principal of Claxton Elementary School in 1992. The school auditorium was dedicated in her honor. The Claxton Jaycees presented her the “Outstanding Young Educator Award” in 1968-69 and the Evans County Business and Professional Women named her “Woman of the Year in 1982-83. She was a past president of the First District Elementary School Principals Association, Evans County PTA, Evans County Beta Sigma Phi and on the Board of Advisors of the Evans County Red Cross. She was a member of the Georgia and the Bryan-Evans Retired Educators Associations and the Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce. She served as Grand Marshall of the Claxton Christmas Parade in 2009.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Colquitt NeSmith; parents, Joel Aden and Wimberly Couey Outler; Grandson, Carl Aden Durrence; brothers, Joel and Don Outler; sister-in-law, Jacqueline N. Waters and Faye Outler; and brother-in-law, Murry NeSmith.

SURVIVORS: a daughter, Donna N. Durrence (Ricky Hutcheson) of Claxton; grandchild, Wimberly Herman of Bluffton, S.C.; great-granddaughter, Isabella Grace Herman of Bluffton, S.C.; a sister, Mary O. (Claude) Rainwater of Villa Rica; one brother, Glen (Karen) Outler of Vidalia; two sister-in-laws, Betty NeSmith Edwards of Claxton and Pat Fields Outler of Alston; one aunt, Joann (Warren) Gilbert of Decatur; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKS ARE REQUIRED DUE TO CORONA VIRUS.

FUNERAL: Grave side, Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 2:00 p.m.

BURIAL: Brewton Cemetery.

REMEMBRANCE: Brewton Cemetery, P.O. Box 978, Claxton, GA., 30417; or The First Baptist Church, 312 W. Main St., Claxton, Ga., 30417.

Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements
“Our Family Serving Your Family”
“Since 1917”
(912) 739-3338
www.nesmithfuneralhome.com





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