Joyce New

Joyce New, 92 of Alexandria, Alabama passed away on July 23, 2025. A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. A service will follow at 1:00 pm at Miller Funeral Home. Rev. David Phillips and Pastor Garry Burns will be officiating. She is survived by her children, Marie Rodgers (Buddy, Sr.), Philip New (Donna), Susan Pridgen (Tim), Mark New; and many grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Sylvan D. New; son, Kenneth B. New; her parents; and brother, Edward Messer. Joyce was born in Anniston in 1932 to James and Hazel Messer. She grew up with four siblings Edward, Faye, Aaron, and Janice. She attended Pine Avenue Elementary School and Anniston High School before continuing her education at Tennessee Temple Bible School. She later earned degrees from Jacksonville State University, the University of Alabama, and SES, even completing hours toward a doctoral degree. While attending Bible school, Joyce married her husband, and together they raised five children. After returning to Anniston, she became a devoted member of Rock of Ages Baptist Church. Her faith journey began early, making a profession of faith at Pine Avenue Baptist Church at the age of 12. She soon joined the lineup to present Training Union lessons. Joyce served her church faithfully throughout her life, working alongside her husband to lead the youth group, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, and participating in the women’s ministry. She worked for the Calhoun County Board of Education as a special education teacher, a hospital and homebound teacher, an assistant coordinator, and eventually as coordinator of special education until her retirement. After retirement, Joyce and her husband were busy with children, grandchildren and church. She began to have health problems, but she did survive cancer. In 2005, she began visiting the Center of Hope Thrift stores and began a new part of her life. Pastor Garry’s response to her desire to participate was “let’s see what God wants!”. She loved her time there. She spent the last decades hugging, making biscuits and gravy, running from place to place having the time of her life, and supporting the Center of Hope program. She taught GED classes at Gadsden State and loved to travel. She made three trips to Israel with Harvest Church of God and visited countries all over Europe and even Korea. She loved singing, taking rides, and listening to the birds sitting on her back porch while reading her Bible. She was a very artistic and creative person. Most of all, she loved God and doing things for people.

Tributes

Joyce New

September 10, 1932 - July 23, 2025