Joyce Dismukes Baxter, 79, of Madison went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday June 28th. Ms. Baxter was born in Prichard, AL. She was the devoted daughter of a Pentecostal Minister and learned to play the piano and sing from an early age. She was very proud of her Christian upbringing and loved to share her childhood memories with family and friends. Blessed with a great sense of humor, she was voted Wittiest while attending Lee College in Cleveland, TN. She started a family in Mobile in 1957 and relocated to Madison in 1962. She graduated from Athens College with a degree in Elementary Education in 1974 and began a 30-yr career in the Madison County School System. After teaching various subjects, she found her calling as a Music Appreciation teacher at several county schools. She excelled in her career and loved her students gaining their respect and admiration. Throughout her life she traveled extensively, embarking on an untold number of road trips across the USA and Canada. She also enjoyed watching Alabama football, classic television, Christmas movies and religious programming. Her favorite entertainer was Elvis Presley with whom she proudly shared a birthday. Her greatest love was her family. She is survived by her three sons, Douglas Nelson and wife, Sun I, David Nelson and wife, Janet, Danny and wife, Sabrina; grandchildren, Cindy (Nelson) Byerly and husband, James, Matthew Nelson, Zach Nelson, Eric Nelson and Foster Nelson; great-grandchildren, Alexander and Jonah Byerly; brother, Rev. Kenneth Dismukes and wife, Martha. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Foster T. Dismukes & Eugenia Agee Dismukes; and brother, Paul Dismukes. Joyce Dismukes Baxter
