Joye Rush

1957 - 2023

Joye Rush

December 7, 1957 - November 3, 2023

Columbia, South Carolina - Joye Elaine Kelly Rush, 65, of Columbia, SC, died after a hard fought battle with cancer on November 3, 2023.

Joye was born in Columbia, SC on December 7, 1957 to James Wesley Kelly and Shirley Hames Kelly. She graduated from Columbia High School before studying Education at the University of South Carolina. Joye then went on to earn her Masters in Education from Frances Marion University. She followed in the footsteps of both her mother and grandmother to become a school teacher.

Joye impacted the lives of hundreds of students during her 30 years of teaching public school. She taught special education and first grade at Olanta Elementary and then second and third grades at Irmo Elementary. After she retired, Joye continued to teach homebound students. Later, she spent 7 years working as a legislative aide at the SC State House of Representatives. She was an active member of Ashland United Methodist Church for more than thirty years. She loved singing in the choir and taught children's choir for many years. She was a member of the Cornerstone Sunday School class and the Susannah Wesley Circle. Joye organized gatherings for her neighborhood. After she was diagnosed with cancer, Joye continued to serve her community by completing service tasks at her home.

Joye spent time traveling and loved the outdoors. Joye traveled with her sister and friends to national parks and historic sites all across the US. Joye and her sister frequently spent weekends traveling to South Carolina State Parks and were named "Ultimate Outsiders" many times over. She was a member of a monthly hiking group that traveled the state. She had a colorful backyard garden and enjoyed visiting with friends in her sunroom full of house plants.

Joye loved the USC Gamecocks. She held season tickets to the men's and women's basketball games. Her time was often scheduled around attending basketball tournaments and cheering on her team.

Joye was a friend to all and made a friend everywhere she went. Keeping in touch with friends from every era of her life was a high priority. She loved hosting gatherings where friends and family filled her home.

Joye's favorite role was being a grandmother. She treasured her time with her granddaughters and loved being their "Mamoo," never failing to read books, play restaurant, and do the "hotdog dance."

Joye was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Hames Kelly, and is survived by her daughter, Kelli Rush Galloway (Justin), sister, Cynthia Kelly Cason, granddaughters, Maeve and Adola "Addie" Galloway, and many other loving family members.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 2pm at Ashland United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. A reception will follow in Ashland Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Ashland United Methodist Church Music Ministries.