Joy Gregory Ledbetter

Joy Ledbetter, 90, died Saturday, November 6, 2001 at St. Bernard's' Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

She was the daughter of Claude and Pearl Johnson Gregory and grew up in the community of Cash, Arkansas. She obtained a BS degree from the University of Arkansas. Thereafter, she moved with her family to Jonesboro in 1947, married Dr. Joseph Ledbetter in 1949, and resided there for the remainder of her life.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, infant brother Elbert Gregory and one niece, Patti Wright. She is survived by her sister, Helen Freeze, nephews and nieces Gregg Freeze, Gail Freeze, Mark Ledbetter, Michael Ledbetter and Drake Ledbetter. Surviving great nephews and nieces are Claude Freeze, Michelle Harkrider, John Freeze, Jim Walker, Dub Walker, Paul Ledbetter, Jr., Kathryn Mayo, Sarah Ledbetter, Will Wright, Mitchell Ledbetter, Laura Ledbetter and Rhys Ledbetter.

Joy professed her faith at the age of ten and never wavered in devotion to her god and savior. She joined the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro and for more than sixty years was deeply involved in many church programs, such as WMU, Women on Missions and the GA's, and therein served in the capacities of teacher, president and chairman. In both beginner and adult Sunday School departments she served as superintendent. Joy's most enduring passion within the practice of her faith was for the foreign missionaries. She and her husband made numerous trips to visit and support missionaries in such places as Thailand, Africa, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. The friends they made on these journeys were beloved, and lifelong. She continued to correspond with them and supported the foreign missions throughout her life.

Her favorite Scripture: Romans 8:38 & 39 "For I am persuaded that neither death or life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, not things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth nor other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

A public memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro on Thursday, November 11th at 2:00 PM, subsequent to a private interment at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery for family only. Visitation will follow the memorial service in the church fellowship hall.

Those wishing to honor the memory of Joy Ledbetter are encouraged to consider a donation to the Southern Baptist Convention Foreign Missions Board.