Joyce Blanton

passed from this life on Monday, June 5, 2006. She was born on December 13, 1942, in Lineville, AL. Her parents were the late David Raymond Humphries and Ada Elizabeth New Humphries and the late Grover Rice and Samantha Humphries Rice. Joyce was the wife of Colonel Robert Delano Blanton (USMC, retired). Living in many parts of the world, including Washington, D.C. in Quantico, VA; Okinawa, Japan; Hawaii and New River Air Station, NC, as a Marine's wife, was a joy to her life. She is survived by her first born son, Dr. Sean Alexander Blanton and his wife, Yasemin Ipek, and Joyce's first grandchild, Pelin Elizabeth, of Chicago, IL; second born son, Jason Robert Blanton and his wife with Joyce's second grandchild, Niko Geiger, of Washington, D.C.; third born son, Matthew Edward Blanton, of Chicago, IL.; beloved sisters: Frances Sudderth and Jody Speer of Birmingham, AL; Dean Capps of Dallas, TX; Margaret Bell of Forest Park, GA; Mar Ingram of Marvin, AL; Mae Barie of Palm Desert, CA; half-sister Clara Takacs of Birmingham, AL; sisters-in-law: Ann Mixson, Mary Lou Seyle and Elizabeth Blanton all of North Charleston, SC; Lynn Blanton of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and also honorary sister Cigdem Cetiner of Izmir, Turkey. Joyce has dozens of nieces and nephews who always adored her; and her loyal and loving chocolate lab, Jonas, was always by her side. Joyce received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University in Alabama, and her masters degree in Middle Grades Education from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She taught school in Pensacola, FL; Jacksonville, NC; Walnut Cove, NC and Tucson, AZ. Joyce was active in professional educational organizations wherever she went. Education was more than a profession to her - it was her calling in life. She truly enjoyed teaching and working with students. Joyce received the most enjoyment in being a mother. She interrupted her teaching career for fifteen years to be a stay-at-home mom to, as she liked to say, "my three sons." Traveling to new places such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Bangkok and Canada was fascinating to her. A month spent in Turkey visiting her daughter-in-law's family last summer was a wonderful experience which she talked about often, and a week spent in the Cotswold area of England in September, 2004 was a dream come true. Joyce has many friends including the High Country Writers of Boone, NC; the Eclectic Society book discussion group also of Boone, NC; her many scrap-booking friends; her neighbors of Jonas Ridge, NC and other friends all over the world. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 9, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, Hwy 150, Hoover. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist in Lineville, AL.