Joyce Tribble Abernathy, 88, of Vero Beach, FL, went to Heaven on March 12, 2018.
She was born in Athens, Limestone County, in Alabama on August 17, 1929 to Hopkins “Hop” Thomas Tribble and Bertha Morris.
She is survived by her husband, William Clanton of Margate, FL; daughters Sandra (Robert) Walker of Vero Beach and Jeannie Abernathy of Deerfield Beach, FL; stepdaughters, Gwen (Herb) Schneider, Jane (Robbie) Peacock, and Carolyn (David) Reynolds. She loved and was loved by her grandchildren, Rebecca (Jeff) Lougee, Stephanie (Ian) Ramjas, Kristin (Jamie) Strickland, and Kelli Walker; great-grandchildren, Lydia (John) Gause, Dominic Carver, Maverick and Jaxon Lougee, and Jessica Strickland.
For 35 years Joyce was a pastor’s wife and served beside her husband Eugene in churches in Florida and Mississippi. She was a devoted Christian and a member of King’s Baptist Church. In her early 40’s she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and bravely fought that horrible disease until her last breath.
She was predeceased by her first husband of 48 years, Eugene Abernathy, and grandsons Ryan Eugene Armstrong and Isaiah Lee Grajales.
A celebration of her life will take place at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in Athens, AL at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 17, 2018. A dear family friend, Rev. Robert Shook, will officate at the service. Visitation will be Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barnabas Ministry at King’s Baptist Church (3235 58th AVE, Vero beach, FL, 32966 (772-567-5850).
