Mrs Evelyn Joyce "Joy" Singleton's Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Evelyn Joyce Singleton on Thursday, January 29th, 2026 at the amazing age of 96.
Joyce began her long journey in life on February 28th, 1929 in Cropwell, Alabama, a daughter and 5th child of George and Viola Ritch.
Joy, as her family and friends called her, shaped her character early in her journey by working on the family farm during the years following the Great Depression and during the years of World War 2. Her character of hard work, determination, frugality, and compassion for others became the way she would live the rest of her life.
Joy worked diligently to graduate high school during that time of uncertainty and challenges. After high school, she began her working career at General Electric Radio as a tube tester. After leaving GE, she began working at a local drug store as a “soda jerk” where she met her future husband, John Wesley Singleton. They married on December 1st, 1949, at a small courthouse in Pell City, Alabama.
After a few years of work building their home, she gave birth to their first son, Mark Stephen Singleton, in August, 1956 and the birth of their second son, John Scott Singleton, on March 13th, 1959.
In 1961, Joy and her family moved to Stevenson, Alabama where she built a loving home and became an active member in the community. For many years, she was actively involved in the First United Methodist Church, Mothers Club, Band Boosters, and PTA. As a very skilled seamstress, she made uniforms for the Majorettes and made quilts for family and friends. Her skills with sewing led her to working in Quality Control for H.D. Lee and Champion Sportswear for many years.
Driven by her many passions and hobbies, Joy’s favorite passions were flower gardening and taking care of abandoned animals. She could always be found in her backyard taking care of her flowers and shrubs and feeding stray animals.
Among her many milestones in life, Joy said that “raising my sons was a privilege and to see the men they have become is one of the biggest gifts I will ever receive”. She would also encourage everyone she touched to give back to others, no matter how little you may have yourself. “You can always spare a few dollars or a few minutes of your time to help someone less fortunate than yourself”.
Joyce will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
In addition to Joy’s parents and 4 siblings, she was preceded in death by her husband John Wesley Singleton and her first son Mark Stephen Singleton.
She is survived by her second son, John Scott Singleton and his wife Tanya Melinda Singleton, two grandchildren, Johnathan Corey Singleton, Chelsea Singleton Hillyard and her husband Dusty Hillyard, and three great grandchildren, Wesley Levi Singleton, Maverick Ace Hillyard, and Audrina Hillyard.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 3rd at the Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson, Alabama. Family and friends can visit from 10:00 to 11:00 am, with a service held at the funeral home and 11:00 with a brief burial service following at the Stevenson Cemetery.
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