Joyce Williamson Spear, age 86, of Auburn, passed away in her home on June 16, 2023, surrounded by the family she loved. A lifelong member of St. James Methodist Church in Montgomery, Joyce was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend to many. Joyce was born on Dec. 9, 1936, to Lucy and Rex Williamson of Goshen, Alabama. She met the love of her life, Cecil C. Spear Jr. of Lapine, while attending high school in Highland Home. Joyce and Cecil were married for 66 years and had two children, Alan and Melissa. Joyce exemplified the highest ideal of being a wife and mother. As a wife, she was unwavering in her support of Cecil. Through good times and bad she offered love, confidence, wise council and, when needed, a solid kick in the pants.
As a mother, nothing was a higher priority than making sure her home was a place of unconditional love and support for her children and their friends. As a grandmother, also known as “Grammer”, she took to the grand-parenting privilege of spoiling her grandkids with her usual enthusiasm. She and Cecil were founding members of the Frazer Sunday School class at St. James in 1959, which still meets today and where Cecil continues to teach once a month. Joyce had many friends and was active throughout her life in many church and community activities.
In her later years, Joyce suffered many medical setbacks, but she rarely complained and time after time bounced back with extraordinary resilience and a positive attitude.
Throughout her life Joyce exemplified the virtues of love, devotion, patience, integrity, self-reliance and service to others. She was sweet, charming and graceful, but also “tough as nails” if the occasion arose. She had nothing but a positive impact on the lives of so many through her service to her family, her church her many friends and the community at large.
Although her physical presence will be dearly missed, she will be an ever-present spirit in the lives of those she touched and for whom she gave so much.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Rex Williamson,; her bothers, Terrell and John Williamson; and her sister, Kate Grayson.
She is survived by her husband Cecil C Spear Jr., her son Alan Spear and his wife Julie, her daughter Melissa Spear Northcutt and her husband Van, her sister Judy Goode, her six grandchildren, Michael and Taylor Spear; Bradley (Claire) Northcutt, Sarah (Wells) Summers, Chris (Alyssa) Northcutt and Casey Northcutt, and her four great-grandchildren: Caroline, Kate, Molly and Helen Northcutt. The family extends a special thanks to the wonderful caregivers that have become part of our family — Johnnie Mae, Maxine, Santrice and Melissa.
Funeral services was held at St. James Methodist Church, located at 9045 Vaughn Road in Montgomery, on Tuesday, June 20.
A graveside service and internment followed at Rocky Mount Cemetery in Highland Home, Alabama, at 2 p.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be sent to the St James Church (www.sjlife.com) or the New Walk of Life Church (www.newwalkoflifechurchmgm.org), both in Montgomery.
