Joyce Weathers Avery

Mrs. Joyce Weathers Avery, lifelong resident of Durham, North Carolina, passed away at her home on December 7, surrounded by family.

Joyce was born to Belve Royster and Yetieve Coleman Weathers on September 20, 1932. She attended Durham High School. She graduated at age 50,with honors from the nursing program at Wake Technical Community College. Joyce's passions in life were centered on her love for children, which included being a teaching assistant at Hillandale Elementary and her career, begun at age 50, as a pediatric nurse at Duke Hospital. After retirement from Duke, she was a valued employee of "The Playhouse", a toy store in West Durham.

Known for an open and caring heart, she also volunteered at Duke Hospital rocking sick babies in the pediatric unit and also enjoyed volunteering in the hospital gift shop, as well as the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. She was an avid supporter of Duke women's basketball. Her church was a major part of her life: she was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Durham - baptized, confirmed, and married there, eventually becoming the first female vestry member. Later, she became a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where she served on the Vestry, Altar Guild, and ECW. She was a proud participant in many St. Luke missionary trips to Belize, where her skills as a pediatric nurse and her compassion for children were invaluable assets. She was an inveterate traveler and made trips to Russia, China, Korea, many European countries, and of course across the United States.

Her greatest joy in later life was her time spent with her grandchildren, Jeff, Joseph, and Vincent, and with her great-grandchildren Kinley, Brennan, Darren, and Addie. Joyce loved her wonderful "backyard" and loved to share the simple pleasures of birds, flowers, and goldfish ponds with these kids.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bobby Avery, grandson Jeffrey Craft, sister Jimmie Weathers Hall, and her longtime loving friend Inez "Turk" James.

She is survived by her children Michael J. Avery (Rosarie), Sarah A. Craft, and Keith Douglas Avery (Dana), brother B.R. (Buddy) Weathers, grand-daughter in law, Heather Craft, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, her loving dog Coby, several nieces and nephews. Also, two very close nieces, Teresa Gerber and Belvely Davis and a very special first cousin Clara Murray were her boon adventure companions.

Special thanks during Joyce's final days, are due to the Duke Home Hospice Team, friend Chris Broga, goddaughter Fran James, and next door neighbor PJ Rowland.

Burial services and interment of ashes will be held at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church at 1902 West Main Street in Durham on Tuesday, December 20 at 1:00, followed immediately by a reception and family visitation at St. Luke's Episcopal Church parish hall at 1737 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

St. Luke's Belize Trip Fund
or
Jeffrey Craft Memorial Fund
(church camp scholarship)
or
LEAP program St. Lukes Episcopal