Betty Joyce McAfee Barrett

Feb. 27, 2015

Betty Joyce McAfee Barrett of Valley Grande, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. She was 76 years old.

Joyce grew up in Lawley, the middle of five children and graduated from Maplesville High School. She enjoyed playing softball and watching her nieces and nephews play sports. Joyce worked at R.L. Zeigler for 43 years. She also taught children’s’ Sunday School for many years at Northside Baptist Church and loved to teach them to sing “Deep and Wide” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It”.

After retirement she was able devote more time to traveling and watching her grandchildren and great-nieces and great-nephews play sports. She loved the Los Angeles Dodgers and Auburn football. Joyce never met a stranger and loved to spend time with her family and friends.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Donald L. Barrett; parents, Robert and Rena McAfee; her sister, Juanita McAfee Smith; and her brother, John McAfee.

Joyce is survived by her loving daughter, Pam Gabehart (Kenneth); stepson, Tim Barrett; she was blessed with four grandchildren, April B. Sanders (Wallace), Mason Gabehart, John Barrett Gabehart and Kensley Gabehart; two great-grandsons, Chayton Sanders and Shilah Sanders; sister, Marjorie Smith (Curtis); brother, Bob McAfee (Faye); sister-in-law, Carole McAfee; special niece, Collette McLaughlin; and a host of other beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2015, at Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Wyatt and the Rev. Ken Blake officiating. Burial will follow at Pineview Memory Gardens. Visitation was held Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at Lawrence Brown – Service Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Joyce’s nephews and great-nephews.

You may go online to www.lawrencebrownservice.com to offer the family private condolences.