July 25, 1930 – February 12, 2017
Joyce Deese Helms, a lifelong resident of the Charlotte area, died Sunday the 12th of February, 2017. Born in 1930, Joyce received a Bachelor of Music from Coker University in 1950. She continued her education at Winthrop University, from which she received a Master’s degree in Music in 1989.Joyce played the organ and directed choirs in several area churches including Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church. She also taught music at McClintock Junior High School and East Mecklenburg High School. In her retirement, she collected and sold antiques. Joyce loved music, church, and traveling. She was known for her strong leadership and independence as well as her full embrace of all of her family members.She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, and is survived by her children: Jerry Helms, Jimmy and Evelyn Helms, Judy and Kevin Jenkins, and June Helms; her grandchildren: Jennifer and Greg Jarrell, Jackson and Sarah Helms, Jeri Ellen Helms, Jerry and Shelley Mellon, Jessica Powers, Mark and Christy Shute, Damien Bigham, Brittany and Jordan Jenkins and great grandchildren: John Tyson, Zebulon, Dorothy, Ada, Edie, Zachary, Cheyanne, Anthony P., Jessalyn, Anthony W., Aiden and Landon.Memorial gifts may be made to the nonprofit, QC Family Tree; 2910 Parkway Ave; Charlotte, NC 28208; http://qcfamilytree.org/donate/donate-online/.Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 17th, 2017 at 2:00pm. Visitation will begin at 12:30pm. Arrangements under the direction of McEwen Funeral Services, Charlotte, NC.