Joyce Griffin

MATTHEWS -- Joyce Anita Griffin, 66, died at 4:30 a.m. Sept. 18, 2006, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Born March 16, 1940, in South Hampton Long Island, N.Y., to Leeta Rice Simmons of Matthews and the late Rev. Harry Edwin Simmons II, she lived most of her life in New Madrid County where she was a member of the First Church of God in East Prairie and was employed by the Division of Family Services in East Prairie before retiring on Aug. 31, 2003.

Survivors include: five daughters and four sons-in-law, Lynn and Darrin Davis and Connie Thurmond of East Prairie, Colleen and Gary Freeland of Troy, Cheryle and Joey King of Sikeston and Aleta and Keith Trankler of Oran; one brother and sister-in-law, the Rev. H. Edwin and Suzanne Simmons III of Nashville, Tenn.; and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation is at 5 p.m. today and Wednesday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the First Church of God in East Prairie with Mike Worrell, Carrie Worrell and Larry Smith officiating.

Burial will follow in the Dogwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Bob Hanor, David Lingle, Randy Sutton, John Bixler, Chuck Davis and Larry Thresher.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Rob Barker, Andrew Griffin, Denver Wolford and Duke Thresher.