Joycelene (Joyce) Lemmons Brill

Published 4:28 pm Monday, December 9, 2024

Joycelene (Joyce) Lemmons Brill, 84, passed away Friday, November 8, 2024, in Atlanta. Joyce was born in Memphis, TN on May 13, 1940. She was raised in a modest and loving home in Eads, TN. Joyce graduated from M.C. Williams (Germantown) High School in May 1958. During her school years, she served on the Footprints Yearbook Staff, was Exchange Editor for The Pitchfork school newspaper, sang in Chorus, was a member of Future Homemakers of America, Science Club, AKT Language Club, and Co-Captain of the Cheerleaders.

After high school, Joyce enrolled in college at Southwestern and Memphis State University. In June 1961, Joyce graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. While in college, Joyce served as President of her Senior Class and Secretary of the Student Organization. She earned the Brockman Award for outstanding Senior Nurse. In college, she met her future husband, Morris Brill Jr., who attended medical school in Memphis. Joyce married Morris on September 7, 1963, at Macon Christian Church in Memphis and the newlyweds moved to Lakeland, FL where Joyce worked in Labor and Delivery at Lakeland General Hospital. The couple welcomed their first child, Morris Lee III, in September 1965 in Lakeland. They relocated to Tampa, FL where their second child, Lori Lynne, was born in March 1968.

Joyce and Morris lived in Tampa for more than 30 years during which Joyce raised her two children, worked as a Registered Nurse, volunteered at Forest Hills United Methodist Church, the Parent Teacher Association, and Tampa United Methodist Centers. After Morris retired, they moved to Dallas, TX where she was active in Hurst United Methodist, and worked part-time for Tuesday Morning.

In 1998, they fulfilled their dream of living in the East TN mountains and moved to Roan Mountain where they lived for 26 years. Joyce was active in Magill Memorial Presbyterian and volunteered for their homeowner’s association and the local Citizen’s Club.

Joyce was a beloved wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, co-worker, and friend. In retirement, she enjoyed reading, gardening, hiking, traveling, volunteering and most especially taking care of her four grandchildren. She was patient, kind, loyal and dependable. She never knew a stranger and would always support those she loved. A graveside service will be held in the spring of 2025 at the Old Bethany Cemetery in Eads, TN.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Brill of Atlanta; her parents, Robert and Marie Lemmons of Collierville, TN; and her brothers, Danny Lemmons of Cleveland, TN and Ronnie Lemmons of Ramer, TN.

She is survived by her son, Lee Brill of Tampa, FL; her daughter, Lori (David) Morley of Atlanta; her grandchildren, Grace of New York City, Lillian of Jacksonville, FL and Mathewson and Lance of Atlanta; and her sister and brother-in-law, Charlie and Judy Bridges of Nashville, TN as well as many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.