Joy Dean Gilliam Stamey, age 89 of Stuart, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Smithfield, Virginia, on Friday, March 15, 2024, on her 66th wedding anniversary. She was born in Granite Falls, NC, on December 9, 1934, to the late Lona (Polly) Edge and Carl Leroy Gilliam, Sr. Joy and her deceased husband Jimmy were proud parents of five children. She was a stay-at-home mom, making her children a priority and supporting her husband during his 30-year career in the military. This entailed many challenges especially while Jim was away from home including two tours of duty in Vietnam. The family was also blessed to spend many years overseas while Jim was stationed in Europe. After Jim retired in 1988, they built their dream home in the beautiful rolling countryside just outside of Stuart. There Joy enjoyed numerous outdoor activities including gardening and traveling often to visit family. She was such a sweet woman who was loved by everyone, and her smile always lit up the room. She always displayed a mother’s love with her willingness to sacrifice her own comfort, needs and desires for the well-being of her children. Joy was a member of Liberty Live Church in Smithfield, VA, where she was baptized in 2021, and is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Joy is survived by two sons, Jimmy Carl Stamey (Archer Lewis) of Florence, MT, and Shane Helms (wife Katie) of Stuart, VA; four daughters, Pam Reeves (Ralph London) of Newton, NC, Sharon Voigt (husband Wesley) of Denver, NC, Julia Dancy (husband Bill) of Smithfield, VA, and Lisa Campbell (Charlie Vik) of Chesapeake, VA. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren plus a deceased granddaughter, Robin Robinson Gibson.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Patrick Memorial Gardens in Stuart, VA with Pastor Dewayne Troutt officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until time to leave in procession at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart, VA. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
