Joyce Cash South, 87, of Huntsville, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Mrs. South was a long-time resident of Huntsville and a member of the Mastin Lake Road Church of Christ since 1965. She was a retired school teacher, teaching for more than two decades at Madison Academy and several years at North Alabama College of Commerce.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Howard W. South.
She is survived by two sons, Mark W. South (Paula) and Paul H. South; three grandchildren, Lindsey Tootle (John), John J. South and Anna V. South. Also considered family are all our friends we’ve known for the past 60 years, especially Evelyn Sierra, who has been by the family’s side through Joyce’s illness.
Joyce was born to Vernon and Bessie Cash in Florence, AL. They lived just a few miles north of Florence in Cloverdale, AL. Joyce often talked very fondly of the memories she had in Cloverdale as a young girl. Her parents operated a general store and they also owned many acres of farmland. Joyce often told warm stories of the animals she grew up with and cared for on the farm. Joyce met Howard South at the Oakgrove church of Christ in the Cloverdale community. Howard had recently returned from active duty during the Korean War when they first met. Two years later, on October 23, 1954, they were married. Joyce then graduated from UNA (Florence State) with a degree in Education and Art. In the following years she and Howard had two sons, Mark and Paul, and eventually grandchildren, Lindsey, John and Anna.
Joyce began teaching at Madison Academy in the mid-1960’s. She taught typing, shorthand and several other business subjects. In the early 1970’s she began teaching high school English and Bible. She taught at MA for over 20 years. She also taught numerous business subjects at North Alabama College of Commerce for several years before retiring. She was loved and respected by the students she taught over the decades.
Joyce was very dedicated to her church family. Once she retired, she focused on care of other church members for the rest of her life. She was known to care for the terminally ill for the duration of their illness. When she became ill herself, her main complaint was that she could not care for others as she thought she should.
Most of all, Joyce loved to spend time with her grandchildren, Lindsey, John and Anna, and they loved to spend time with her. She had a great deal to teach them, and she was a tremendous help as a teacher during their homeschooling years. She and Howard took the grandchildren on many adventures and made their childhood fun and memorable in numerous ways. Joyce was known to be a remarkable Godly woman who knew her Bible extremely well. She was the epitome of graciousness, a beautiful soul and a huge positive influence on others around her. She was an encouraging elder’s wife who deeply loved her church family. She was as kind as she was pretty, a Southern lady who was always so elegantly dressed. She loved to garden, to get her hands in the dirt and then lovingly tend to the flowers as they grew. She was a “second mama” to friends of her sons, always welcoming them into her home for a warm meal. And they loved to come, too, because she was, in her family’s opinion, the best cook in North Alabama! Her beautiful smile, welcoming spirit, her Godly love and influence on so many will be remembered and missed. We are truly blessed to have been loved by her and she will live on in our hearts.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 8th from 9:00 – 10:00 AM at Meridianville Church of Christ followed by memorial service at 10:00 with Scotty Sparks officiating. Burial will take place at 2:00 PM at Tri-City Memorial Gardens in Florence, AL, with Alvin Alston officiating.
Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
