House of Praise Church
HIS will is that NONE PERISH, BUT THAT ALL COME TO REPENTANCE
2 Peter 3:9
OUR PRECIOUS "Pastor Joyce Williams", BS; MS
(1/17/49-11/11/09)
We will always Love and Remember!
God allowed the SUN to RISE on January 17, 1949, in a most sensational way. One of His own Angels, Joyce Renee' Jones was born! She was raised by her maternal grandmother, Amy Carter, in Lumberton, North Carolina. Through the teachings of this dear woman, God instilled His own heart, His morals, His character, His wisdom, His forgiveness and His Love, into Joyce.
Joyce was among the initial group of students, to integrate Lumberton High School. In 1971, she graduated from Livingstone College and she also obtained a Master's degree in Administration, from RIDER UNIVERSITY, in Lawrenceville, N.J. She moved to Trenton to begin her career with the State of New Jersey. Successfully, she served the state of New Jersey until 1995, when she retired from her position with the Department of Personnel, so that she could relocate with her family, to Birmingham, Alabama. (when her husband's job transferred).
After relocating, she returned to her Sociology roots. She became a Social Worker with the Birmingham Salvation Army. She helped countless numbers of people to obtain food, clothing, housing, and financial assistance. But, most of all, she helped them to find "JESUS". As she led a "fasting" life, daily, she would take her lunch breaks walking in the Parks, witnessing and ministering the Love of God.
She never met a stranger, and she loved everyone. She believed in "family", both Spiritually and Naturally. In 1995, she joined Mothers Against Violence and the intercessory prayer and praise team, led by the Holy Spirit, through Pastor Carmen Mc Cain. There, she learned, practiced and taught, "BEFORE HONOUR, THERE MUST BE HUMILITY" (Proverbs 18:12).
Sister Joyce, was more than just a dedicated member of House of Praise Church. Through much fasting, prayer and seeking God, she was the Co-founder of HOUSE OF PRAISE CHURCH. She was extremely active in the Church's Women and Prison Ministries. Yet, as a mother of two young daughters, Mothers Against Violence was her passion.
In 2008, she was ordained as a minister and became Co-Pastor of House of Praise Church. She lived what she preached. This dynamic woman of God Blessed the lives of "ALL" whose paths she crossed.
The "SUN" set in many lives, on November 11, 2009. IT LEFT AN "EMPTY SPACE", (A PAINFUL "VOID") IN EVERYONE'S HEART THAT KNEW HER.
"Pastor Joyce", as she is so fondly called, loved to PRAISE THE LORD! Her spiritual house, as well as her natural house, was indeed, "A TRUE HOUSE OF PRAISE"!
HER FAVORITE SONG WAS:
"KEEP YOUR EYES UP ON JESUS. LOOK FULL INTO HIS WONDERFUL FACE. THEN, THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL GROW "STRANGELY DIM", IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE".
(Psalm 116:15)-"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints".
