Joyce Hope Revels

Joyce Hope Revels, 87, of Hendersonville, NC, passed away into the open arms of her Savior on Sunday, August 23, 2009, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

She was born August 3, 1922 in Lake County, FL, to the late George Franklin Revels and Ethel Alma Dukes Revels. She was one of seven children, four older sisters and two brothers. She was preceded in death by sisters, Elsie Revels, Bonnie McKinney, Merle Mueller and Dorothy Satterwhite, and by her brother, Robert B. Revels.

Miss Revels attended high school in Tavares, FL. Upon graduation, she attended the ND Baptist Theological Seminary and worked as educational director. She received her Bachelorís degree from Howard College, which is now Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and her MSSW degree from RPI, College of William and Mary in Richmond, VA. For several years she worked in public welfare and child welfare, including a number of years in psychiatric social work in California. She left that work and came to Hendersonville in 1975. She became involved in founding Christ Life Ministries and served several years as its executive director. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, the Association of Exchanged Life Ministries and the Association of Christian Counselors. She retired in 1999, but continued counseling and pursued new methods for ministering to people.

She is survived by her brother, George Forrest Revels of Jacksonville, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

Her life will be celebrated at a special service at the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville at 7 PM Thursday, August 27, 2009. The Reverend Wally Shamburger will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Final interment will be at 2 PM Monday, August 31, 2009 at Dukes Family Cemetery in Groveland, FL, alongside her other family members.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Joyce Revels Ministry Fund, c/o Christ Life Ministries, 829 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791, or to other charities of the donorís choice.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the Spring Arbor Staff and the Pardee ER and ICU Staff for their compassionate care.