George William "Bill" Joyner, Jr.

Winston-Salem - George William "Bill" Joyner, Jr. died June 6, 2024, following a period of declining health. Bill was born in Asheboro in 1944, the son of the late Dr. George William Joyner and Sue Brewer Joyner. He attended Asheboro High School, where he was a member of the golf and basketball teams. He was named "Mr. Asheboro High School" by his classmates and was class speaker at his graduation in 1962. Bill was twice inducted into the Asheboro High School Sports Hall of Fame, both as an outstanding individual basketball player and with his 1962 state basketball championship team.

Bill then attended Wake Forest College and was proud to be a direct descendant of the school's founder, Samuel Wait. He was a member of the Men's basketball team, playing for coaches Bones McKinney and Jack Murdock. He joined Kappa Sigma Fraternity, where he formed many lifelong friendships and graduated with an English degree in 1966. He attended graduate school at Wake Forest and taught English at Appalachian State before returning to Wake Forest in 1969 to work in the Alumni office. For 27 years, Bill worked in fundraising and development for Wake Forest University and built an award-winning program that was admired nationally. Following his time at Wake Forest, he founded G.W. Joyner Consulting, which advised not-for-profit organizations on meeting their fundraising goals.

Bill was involved with many community organizations and institutions, serving on the boards of Summit School, St. Mary's School, Reynolda House, Forsyth Country Club and the Country Club of North Carolina. In addition, he was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and a past member of Rotary Club of Winston-Salem and Old Town Club.

He loved being with his friends, on their annual golf trips and at their daily lunches. He also loved spending time with young people. During his time at Wake Forest, he advised and mentored many. Most of all, he loved telling stories. A gifted raconteur, his tales never failed to bring us laughter, no matter how many times he told them.

In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Jane Cottle Joyner, in 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Hammerstrom Joyner; his children, George William Joyner III (Christine) and Sara-Peyton Joyner McCormick (Stuart); and grandchildren George, Oran and CeCe Joyner and Wait McCormick, all of Winston-Salem.

He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Joyner Jordan of Asheboro; stepchildren Charles Judson Palmer IV of Rocky Mount and Carter Palmer Benton (Ryan) of Wilmington; and step-grandchildren Reilly, Carrington and Liza Mae Benton.

A memorial service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 11 at 2 pm. The family will receive friends following the service at Old Town Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the G. William Joyner, Jr. Scholarship Fund at Wake Forest University, Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 or via this link https://go.wfu.edu/billjoyner/; or Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.