Joyce Marie Bryan

Joyce Marie Bryan (née Farrell) went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on April 21, 2022, in Lakeland, Florida at the age of 85. On September 21, 1936, she was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Basil and Marie Farrell.
Joyce spent her childhood in Michigan before moving to Greenville, South Carolina, where she graduated from Bob Jones University in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She married Jerry Bryan in 1958, and upon his graduation, they moved to Amarillo, Texas, where she worked as an interior designer with Sears-Roebuck company as well as private clients and was a devoted pastor's wife helping her husband found Berachah Bible Church, later renamed West Cliff Bible Church and still remains there today. One of her passions was being the church pianist and providing music in various forms.
One of her greatest desires in life was to be a mother, and the Lord blessed her to adopt their first baby girl, Janelle, in 1968. Two years later, the Lord blessed her with the ability to adopt a second daughter, Jennifer, in 1970. After many years of believing that she could not conceive a biological child, they were blessed with a third daughter, Jill, in 1974. Shortly after, they completed their family with a baby boy, James II, in 1976. In 1984 the family moved to California, where she earned the title Nana with the birth of her first granddaughter, Crystal. After divorcing in 1986, she moved to Lakeland, Florida, to be with her parents and started attending Gapway Baptist Church for a few years until she found her church home of 31 years, Lakeland Bible Church.
Joyce began working as an office administrator until retiring from the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 1997 after her father's passing. She dedicated her life to taking care of her family and spreading the love of Jesus in her community; she was an ever-faithful disciple of God, blessing many throughout her life. When she wasn't caring for others, she could be found singing and playing the piano at church. There wasn't a day that passed that she wasn't looking for an opportunity to share the saving grace of Jesus with those whose path she crossed. She was full of life and always on the go. Many hours were spent teaching her children, grandchildren, and neighborhood children the Word of God. Her strong faith put the love of Jesus into action. She modeled love for her family by always being there for each of them. She demonstrated this love by helping others in need. She had a big and generous heart that will live on in our hearts.
Joyce would often say “I am so fortunate God has blessed me with such a large family, to see how he multiplied me from being an only child.”
She is survived by her children, Janelle Touchberry and her husband John of Anna, Texas, Jill Wilbur-Reid and her husband Jerry of Lakeland, Florida, 1SG James Bryan II and his wife Natalia of Killeen, Texas, her grandchildren Crystal McBrayer, Lauren Miller, Jenna Hill, Marianda Marshall, Ben Touchberry, James Bryan III, Kira Watson, Paul Mata, Zane Bryan, Matthew Bryan, Olivia Owens, Kaitlyn Braswell, and her great-grandchildren Nathen Williamson, Micaela McBrayer, Cassandra Marshall, Giovanni Narizzano, Charlotte Marshall, Eisley Hill, Catherine Marshall, Nicolas Narizzano and Eddie Hill. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Basil and Marie Farrell, and her daughter, Jennifer Mezo.
A celebration of her life will be held at Lakeland Bible Church, 1725 Parker Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811,
on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 12 pm. Pastor Mike Millican will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joyce's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Lakeland Bible Church at P.O. Box 7212 Lakeland, Florida 33807 or one of her many beloved charities, www.Joniandfriends.org.

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