Joy A.P. Alford
Joy Ann (Pollard) Alford, born Dec. 5, 1934, at Thida, Ark., went home to be with the Lord on Friday May 22, 2020.
She was the daughter of B.D. and Meda (Caldwell) Pollard. Joy graduated from Oil Trough High School in 1952 and later from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA) with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1956. Joy used her degree to teach home economics classes for several years. On June 16,
1957, Joy married her soulmate, Jimmie M. Alford, of Magnet Cove, Ark. Joy became a devoted wife and stay-at-home mother to their two children, Monica and Gregg.
Joy was a longtime member of Hot Springs Baptist Church and proud fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. She enjoyed many trips to Fayetteville as a season ticket holder and was faithful to the Hogs in victory and defeat — always finding the bright spots, like how good they looked in their uniforms. Joy leaves behind a legacy of generosity, kindness and love of the highest order. Her proudest achievements were founded in love: her 57-year marriage, the fact that her children never had to wonder if they were loved and her four grandchildren. She showered many other friends and family around her with love and kindness. Joy lived by two similar creeds — “The Lord is good, all the time” and “This too shall pass.” In famine or in harvest, Joy turned to the Lord for strength and hope. In the years after her husband’s passing, Joy stayed in several assisted living facilities in Hot Springs, where she touched the lives of many residents and caregivers alike. Most recently, she was selflessly cared for by Christine Blackmon. Joy never referred to her as anything but her friend. That is who she was to her. She will be missed by all who knew her and prefers to be remembered as a loving wife, daughter, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as a faithful and obedient Christian. She will be called a good friend by many and she took pride in her ability to uplift those around her, either with an encouraging word or a tasty dessert.
Joy is preceded in death by husband, Jimmie M. Alford; parents, B.D. and Meda Pollard; sister, Charlotta Ruth (Pollard) Houser and husband Bill.
She is survived by her daughter, Monica (Alford) Avery and husband, Randy, of Rogers; son, Dr. Gregg Alford and wife, Donna, of Hot Springs; grandson, Dr. Andrew Hunter Avery and wife, Dr. Caroline Avery, of Nashville, Tenn.; grandson, Tyler Randall Avery and wife, Leah, of Hot Springs; granddaughter, Lauren Elaine Alford, of Hot Springs; granddaughter, Katherine Joy Alford, of Hot Springs; great-granddaughter, Charlotte Ann Avery, of Nashville, Tenn.; great-grandson, James Randall Avery, of Hot Springs; brother-in-law, Jerome Alford and wife, Linda, of Marion, Ark.; niece, Marla Alford, of Marion, Ark.; niece, Pamela (Houser) Blackiston and husband, Fil and their son, Steven, of Malden, Mo.; niece, Kim (Houser) Peel and husband, Mark and their daughters, Rebecca and Sarah, of Sikeston, Mo.
Joy breathed her last on Friday morning, resting in the loving care of the staff at The House of Three in Hot Springs.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24,
2020, at Price Cemetery, 4900 Malvern Road, Hot Springs, AR
71901.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Missions. Donations to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse. org/our-ministry/memorial-giving/ Select “Donate On A Memorial Page” and Enter “Joy Alford”.
“… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Online condolences at http://www.caruth-hale.com.