Joyce D. Gillingham

Joyce D. Gillingham, 63, of New Castle, Va., mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher left this life on Monday, November 16, 2009. She left much like she lived, with bravery and spunk. Joyce was born on June 23, 1946. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger D. Gillingham; father, Frank S. Dame; and a brother, Frank S. Dame Jr. She is survived and will be forever remembered and celebrated by her daughter, Jennifer Gillingham Sturm and husband, Jeff, of Stuarts Draft; son, Luke Stockton Gillingham, of Roanoke; grandchildren, Max Logan Sturm, Olivia Kate Sturm, and Christopher Noah Gillingham and his mother, LeeEllen Lowe; mother, Dorothy Dame; brothers, Rusty Dame and wife, Susan, and Randy Dame and wife, Elizabeth; sister, Bonnie Dame, all of Newport News; sister-in-law, Charlene Dame, of Colorado; and nieces and nephews too numerous to list, but each special to their aunt. We would like to thank the family, friends, and Carilion Hospice Team for sharing these days with us. Joyce loved her family, a shared laugh with friends, a clean house, and a good book. She touched the lives of so many children and their families through her 21 years of work as a Home Based Educator with Head Start as well as her volunteerism with the After Prom committee, Special Education Committee, and Emergency Foster Care. While she called the mountains home, she thought the ocean to be a glimpse of Heaven. May she find this to be true. A brief memorial service followed by a celebration of her life will be held 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 2009, at Mountain View Christian Church, New Castle, Va., with Raymond Christian officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Craig County Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 38, New Castle, VA. 24127. Arrangements handled by Simpson Funeral Home and Crematory, 540-366-0707.