Joyce Cox Worrell

Joyce Cox Worrell, age 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, March 28, 2024.  She was born August 20, 1930, the daughter of Barcey Elijah and Mary Ellen White Cox in Whiteville, North Carolina.

Joyce centered her entire life on her relationship with God and His Word.  She committed her life and heart to Jesus Christ at the age of eight. Throughout her life, she was dedicated to her local church – active in church youth group; Sunday School teacher, and home prayer group host and Bible study leader. Joyce was best known for her extraordinary ability as a pianist and her love for sacred music. For more than 60 years, she ministered to multiple generations of her church family as the pianist for the Whiteville Missionary Alliance Church.  She also played her beloved hymns in nursing homes as a member of the Joy Messengers and was sought out for special events, weddings, banquets, and funerals.

Joyce graduated from Chadbourn High School as salutatorian of her class of 1948 and then earned a business certificate at Bob Jones University. Her first job was in the records office of Columbus County Hospital in Whiteville where she met her husband of 55 years.  They ultimately shared a vision of serving the Lord together in Christian radio outreach, and in 1964, they and partners established WVCB radio station that included Christian programming. In the mid-1980s, they became primary owners and broadcast the Christian message and music throughout each day for nearly 40 years. Joyce and her husband were also charter members of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Whiteville.  Her great joy was in serving the Lord through the church, supporting several missions organizations, and interceding for God’s servants at home and abroad.  Her life’s verse is Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

She was preceded by her parents, her husband, John G. Worrell, her daughter, Rhonda Joyce Worrell, and her brothers, Neil Cox and Rudy Cox. 

Left to cherish her memory are her son, John Worrell (Frankie), Mullins, SC; daughter Karen Fugett (John), Shallotte, NC; daughter Ellen Frazee (David) Acton, MA; Sister Dorothy Giles (Woody), Yorktown, VA; Sister Elneta Spell (Bill), Leesburg, FL; Sister Carolyn Hester (Curtis), Laurinsburg, NC. Granddaughters: Karie Fugett (Brent Buckelew); Kelsey Brown (Josh); Kirsten Fugett (Brent Holmes); Michelle Placke (Seth); Rachel Frazee (Ibrahim Lopez); Hannah Frazee.  Great-grandchildren: Raelynn Brown; Leo Buckelew; Hampton and Chesed Placke. Beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, church family and many friends near and far.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM at Whiteville Missionary Alliance Church, 623 Warrior Trail, Whiteville, NC, Saturday, April 6. The family will receive friends from 1:00-1:45 PM prior to the service. Burial will be at Columbus Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in honor of Joyce Worrell to the Chrisian Missionary Alliance Missions Fund, 6421 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.

McKenzie Mortuary, 112 Jefferson Street, Whiteville, NC  28472.

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