of Searcy, AR

October 24, 1934 - November 14, 2020

Jo Joyce (Brewer )Shackelford died at 1:20 a.m. on November 14, 2020 in Searcy, Arkansas after a long battle with Alzheimers. She was born to St. Elmo and Lucille (Niell) Brewer on October 24, 1934 in Coweta, Oklahoma. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Don Brewer. She is survived by her husband (of almost 66 years), Robert Donald Shackelford, whom she married on December 14, 1954; her sister, Opal Sue (Buck) Underwood, five children Lucy Console, Robbie Shackelford, Donna Daggett, Rebecca Lambert and Kenneth Shackelford, their spouses, 22 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren…and counting!

Joyce grew up in Oklahoma and enjoyed playing basketball and deepening her Christian faith. She met her husband, Don, at Central Christian College (Bartlesville, Oklahoma), where she received her Associates degree. She caught Don's attention as a letter-jacket-wearing basketball player. Throughout her active life, she was a mentor, Bible school teacher, and hard working servant and member of the Cloverdale Church of Christ in Searcy.

When Joyce and Don married, he told her that they would ''see and travel the world''…and, in fact, they did. They lived as missionaries for the church of Christ in Palermo, Sicily and Florence, Italy-travelling back numerous other times, bringing groups of college students for campaigns and working at Harding University's campus in Florence. They also moved around the US, living and ministering to churches in Dallas, Texas; Slidell, Louisiana; Lubbock, Texas; and then settling in Searcy, Arkansas. An Oklahoma country girl catapulted as a young mother to the Old World of Italy, on the island of Sicily, she rose to the occasion, meeting the challenges of a new language, new food and drink and what were, for her, arcane customs and child-rearing habits. She loved a new people, and they loved her back. And this would happen time and again, wherever she moved with her husband and her growing family.

Joyce was a true help meet-ezer kenegdo in the ancient language of Genesis-to her husband, standing and walking by his side, surrounding him and supporting him with her love. She was a loving daughter to her parents and her mother and father-in-law, caring for them as they got older. She was known as Mommy, Momma, Mamma Joyce, Miss Joyce and Mamaw by many, many children…her own and others that she cherished. Even the young people at the Bible School in Florence would call her Mamma Joyce, even though some of them were only 10 years younger than her! She was loving and giving, bestowing her whole attention to the baby in her arms or the child on her lap or the teenager at her side. And she extended that spirit of service to her sisters and brothers in Christ and to people she met during her life here on earth. She was especially known for her warm hospitality and joyful spirit.

She was a true people-person: she would listen and talk, laugh and hug. Her grandchildren remember all the funny faces and sounds she would make, and one grand-daughter said: ''I loved that she didn't care how silly she looked, she would do just any silly thing to make kids laugh. What a treasure.'' She danced and whirled and jumped for joy for and with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the accompaniment of excited giggles and laughter.

She loved kids-her house was open to her children's friends and to others who needed a place to be. She taught Bible classes for years and loved the boys and girls in her 4th grade Wednesday evening Bible classes.

Sometimes she would cry and feel inadequate and less than she should be…but those moments usually didn't last too long. She just wasn't one to be self-absorbed-she found others, children and grown-ups alike, more interesting and deserving of her attention.

When you were with her, you felt that she really saw you and loved you for who you were-with all your quirks and limitations, even your pettiness and mistakes. She wanted you to be your best, she grieved if she thought you were doing something wrong, but she never stopped loving.

She loved God her Father and her Lord Jesus with all her heart and rejoiced in being a sister in Christ to her own extended family and others. She enjoyed singing Bible songs at home, at worship and on long car trips. She would say that she couldn't sing well, and wouldn't it be wonderful when she had a voice like an angel in heaven!

Mamma Joyce, we love you and miss you but know that you must be singing like an angel and jumping for joy with our Lord. Finché in ciel! Maranatha!

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Elmer and Iona Shackelford Bible Scholarship fund at Harding. Due to Covid-19 precautions, the family will have a private burial with a memorial service to be celebrated in the future.

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