Joyce Hornsby Wyant's Obituary
Joyce Hornsby Wyant
Joyce Hornsby Wyant, age 92, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2016, at her home in Lovettsville, surrounded by her family.
Joyce was born Mildred Joyce Hornsby on April 19, 1924 to Boliver Levi and Ardella Florence (Mason) Hornsby in Lynchburg, VA. After graduating from E. C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Joyce attended nursing school at the University of Virginia. While Joyce was in nursing school her parents moved to Great Falls, VA and opened Daleview Greenhouses and Florist. On weekends and school breaks, Joyce helped her parents with the florist, ranging from planting flowers to driving the delivery truck. One weekend, Joyce ran an errand for her mother to the Safeway to get stew meat; the young man behind the meat counter was Eric, who would later become her husband. After graduating from nursing school, Joyce worked as a surgical nurse at the University of Virginia Hospital and then with the Visiting Nurse Association in New York City and Arlington, VA. In 1947, Joyce became the Director of the Visiting Nurse Association in Arlington.
Joyce and Eric married on May 14, 1949, and began building a home—one paycheck at a time — in Great Falls. In 1960, Joyce and Eric opened Great Falls Boarding Kennels, which is still operated by their daughter Janet. Joyce put her paid nursing career aside to care for her parents, raise her daughters, and care for countless others — embodying the selfless love that was central to every fiber of her being.
Joyce’s special gift was living each day with gratitude and thankfulness, and being an optimistic realist who was always willing to see the best in people. Her deep and abiding faith guided her actions, and she was unfailingly kind, open, and caring. Joyce will be remembered for her ever-present smile and as a bright, shining beacon of love.
Joyce was an active member of Great Falls United Methodist Church, serving in a multitude of capacities from a member of the Altar Guild to the adult leader for the youth fellowship, which included giving up her weekends for car washes and sleepovers in drafty barns. Joyce also loved traveling, and as their children left the nest, she and Eric enjoyed cruises in the Caribbean and Alaska.
She is survived by Eric, her beloved husband of 67 years, and their four daughters: Susan (Chris Parios) of Leesburg, VA, Diane Wyant of Chapel Hill, NC, Janet Wyant of Great Falls, VA, and Lori Wyant Rockwell of Old Church, VA; three grandchildren, Erika, Austin, and Brandon Rockwell; one great-granddaughter, Lilyana Rockwell. She was predeceased by her only sibling, Lee Hornsby Michelitch of Great Falls.
A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully celebrated.
A celebration of life service will be held April 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Great Falls United Methodist Church, 10100 Georgetown Pike Great Falls, VA 22066 (www.greatfallsumc.org/). A reception will follow the service, including an ice cream bar — Joyce’s favorite food! Please bring photos, stories, and memories of Joyce to share during the service or the reception.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joyce’s name to the Blissful Sage Hospice in Belize, Central America at blissfulsage.org and through random acts of kindness.
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