Obituary for Joyce A Stovall
Mrs. Joyce A Stovall of Tallahassee passed
away on February 1, 2021. She was a resident
of Westminster Oaks for many years, where
she was on the Welcome Committee and enjoyed
baking bread for all the new neighbors.
Joyce was a lively, witty, energetic person
who found ways to serve others in her
church, neighborhood and community.
Joyce was an active member of Lafayette
Presbyterian Church (The Fountain Church)
and donated the well-known fountain in
memory of her husband, Peyton Don Stovall.
Rev. Steve Graves, her pastor, said, "Joyce
Stovall baked delicious bread, and she
offered it as spiritual sustenance to the
lonely, the newcomer, and those seeking
connection to both earth and heaven. She
printed labels and affixed them to the
wrapper, featuring a butterfly and the
promise: "Baked by An Angel."
"Perhaps she was an angel. These are not
merely words pious and poetic to lift up the
memory of a friend. Nor am I speaking
symbolically, seeking to draw a correlation
between deeds and salvation. My reflections
and considerations are sincere. For what is
an angel if not a messenger, a nurturer, a
witness, and a consolation?"
Joyce was born in 1928 in Americus, Georgia
to Russell and Lavalia Peavy Thompson. She
grew up in Americus and was related to the
Thompson, Peavy, Bowen and Morgan families
of Dooly and Macon Counties in Georgia. From
the Morgans, she is descended from Rev.
George Cadogan Morgan and Dr. Richard Price,
DDS, FRS, polymaths, dissenters and writers
supporting the American Revolution, and who
were also part of the British Enlightenment.
This family created the first successful
life insurance plans, in what would become
known as the Equitable Life Assurance
Society.
Joyce was a military spouse who created and
dedicated the Military Wall of Honor located
at Westminster Oaks in memory of her
husband. It holds the photographs of
residents who are former or retired military
and honors their service to the nation. She
was a member of the Caroline Brevard
Chapter, 3-011-FL, NSDAR and the Anna
Jackson Chapter 224, UDC. She worked with
Southern Bell, starting as an operator after
graduation from high school. Joyce completed
her career as the secretary for the Florida
office of Communications Workers of America,
working in Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Don Stovall, her parents, her siblings,
Ernest Thompson of Gardena, California,
Virginia T Williams of Columbus, Georgia,
Harry Thompson of Leslie, Georgia, and Emory
(Dig) Thompson of Macon, Georgia. She is
survived by her son, Russell Stovall of
Tallahassee and her brother Ray Thompson
(Rhoda) of Warner Robins, Georgia, as well
as many nieces and nephews.
Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home of
Tallahassee was in charge of burial
arrangements and the graveside service.
Obituary submitted by Merri Spence
