October 28, 2024, 80, Goldsboro —
On October 28, 2024, Joyce Strickland Edmundson went to sing with the heavenly angels surrounded by love at Goldsboro Assisted Living. She was born on November 3, 1945, the 8th of 11 children in Johnston County to the late William Henry and Mammie Victoria Beddingfield Strickland.
Joyce grew up in Micro, North Carolina where she graduated from Micro School and then went on to work at Sylvania and Fawn Electronics before retiring as a quality controller for Walter Kidde in Wilson. After retirement, she often volunteered her time as a Meals on Wheels deliverer. She was a long-time member of Carter’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church prior to moving to Eureka where she joined Antioch Original Free Will Baptist Church. There she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir and on the Praise Team. She enjoyed singing with her sisters at various venues and events. She also served as the president of the Women’s Auxiliary and the president of the Western Conference of the Free Will Baptist Women’s Auxiliary. Joyce’s hobbies and fun included crafting, embroidery, cross stitching, and quilting. She often gathered with the country church quilting club to fellowship and sew. With every stitch, you can bet it included a lot of love. She had a natural gift of making everyone feel welcome, wanted, and appreciated. She would often show her love by cooking a home meal and she added special touches to let you know she was glad you joined her for lunch or dinner. She enjoyed traveling when she could and just spending time with family sharing her stories and showing you her garden and beautiful flowers.
Joyce was an amazing mama, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She will never be forgotten and will forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Preceding her in death are her parents; husband, Luby Keith Edmundson; brothers – James Clyde (JC) Strickland and Donald Milford Strickland; sisters – Josephine Strickland Bryant, Martha Jean Strickland Grady, Lois Mae Strickland Davis, and a stillborn baby sister. She is survived by her children – son, Leland Douglas Pittman, Jr. (fiancé Valarie Warren) of Goldsboro and stepdaughter, Pamela Beth Edmundson Arrington (Howard) of Holiday, FL; special grandson, Christian Warren, who lovingly called her Mama Grandma; brothers, William (Bill) Yates Strickland (Joyce) of Selma and Jerry Wayne Strickland (Libby) of Byrdstown, TN; sisters, Mammie Gwendolyn Strickland Bracknell of Winston-Salem and Elizabeth Strickland Pearce of Chesapeake, VA and sister in law, Lois Ann Strickland of Charleston, SC and several nieces and nephews.
Her life will be celebrated with a graveside service held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Smith-Edmundson Family cemetery, 1846 Big Daddys Road, Pikeville, NC 27863. Her family invites all who knew her to attend and honor her life. There will be a time of sharing with the family following the service.
A sincere thank you is sent to the staff at Goldsboro Assisted Living and to the staff at Hospice of Wilson for their care during her illness.
