Joyce Marsh McIntee passed away Thursday, February 18, 2021 at home following an extended illness.
Ms. McIntee was born October 8, 1945, in Swainsboro, to the late Louis (Buck) Marsh and Annie Akridge Marsh. She was a very strong woman. Joyce was diagnosed with cancer in May 1975, and was given only one year to live. Fighting every day to survive, she would do her exercises, cry, and pray. Every prayer, she would ask “Lord, please let me live to see my baby turn 18”. She proved them wrong; she survived 45 years after fighting for her family, who she loved. Ms. McIntee is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dave McIntee; sister Erlene Rowland; and brothers, Melvin Marsh and Phil Marsh.
Survivors include sons, John (Janet) Henry of Glenwood and Wayne Hall (Alicia Strickland) of Soperton; daughters, Lynn (Randy) Smith of Swainsboro, Lisa Scarboro (Robbie Wheeler) of Swainsboro, Carlene (Jerry) Lyles of Soperton, and “Little” Lynn (Tony) Brown of Dallas; step-children, Carrie (Michael) Douglas, David (Sandy) McIntee, Michael (Leslie) McIntee, and Denise McIntee, all of Canada; two beautiful ladies that Joyce and Dave helped raise, Madelyne (Dale) Meeks and Teresa Hall; sisters, Shelby (Ray) Hutcheson of Adrian, Gail Williamson of Swainsboro, and Marie Brown of Midville; a very special aunt/sister who were raised together, as sisters, went to school together, cooked, sewed, and always had there nightly phone calls, Jean Henry; loving, caring, heartwarming lady, Teresa Dixon; a special loving, outspoken, card-playing lady who Joyce considered a daughter, Vickie Williams; a person that she considered a son and shared a birthday with, Randy Akridge (Joyce always would have her name on the birthday cake first); 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
The children all agree on this - “What is the one thing that you could say about Mama?” We all answered, “she loved her family and loved to fish (that’s an Akridge thing), and would drink nothing but Coke.” We were told a story “growing-up” about out grandmother (Mama Annie) who did not like going anywhere. She would always say she did not feel well. However, let someone drive up with fishing poles hanging out the windows on someone’s car, she sure felt better in a hurry. That was our Mama, except Mama would not get out of bed until lunch unless a car drove up with those fishing poles (wide awake). Mama would say “you get the poles and tackle and I will get the crackers and coke - (no water); she said “water would rust a nail.” It’s amazing how Mama and Shelb caught the same fish at the same time.
Besides fishing, the happiest we saw our Mama is when the grandchildren and great-grandchildren would sit on the floor and she could see the smiles on their faces as they opened those Christmas presents (priceless). Mama would always say “Never forget where you came from, who your family and friends are, and always be thankful”.
We would like to say “Thank You” to everyone who loved and prayed for our Mom. Thank you to Colon and Jean Henry for allowing Mama to be baptized in their pool on November 1, 2020. On that special day, not only was Joyce baptized, two of her children, John and Lynn, along with her granddaughter, Cheyenne, were also baptized. Thank you, Mr. Rusty Moore. Thank you to everyone at hospice and all the nurses and CNA’s that came to Mama’s - we could not have done this without
“everyone”. Mama will always be loved and surely missed.
“Love” John, Lynn, Lisa, Carlene, Wayne and “Little” Lynn
