Joyce Gravlee

Tupelo - Joyce Tyler Gravlee, 85, died Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after a sudden illness. She was born April 12, 1925 to Luther F. and Lucille Higdon Tyler in Picayune. She graduated from Blue Mountain College in 1947 and then moved to Tupelo to teach high school English and Spanish. Later she taught remedial reading at Church Street Elementary School and American history at Milam Junior High School. She was a life member of Junior Auxiliary, where her special interest was the Crippled Children's Clinic.

Joyce was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was a choir member for many years, taught Sunday School and worked with children and youth, taught children's Bible drills for thirty-five years, and taught an adult ladies' class from 1985 to 2005. Woman's Missionary Union was always her special love.

She supported many events in which her grandchildren participated. For many years her grandchildren spent every tuesday night with GG and Granddaddy.

A Celebration of GGs life will be 3 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. John Armistead and Dr. David Eldridge officiating. On behalf of the grandchildren, a eulogy will be delivered by her grandson, Chris McAlpin. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-two years, Guy Gravlee, Jr., whom she married in February 1948; her daughters, Lynn McAlpin (Jim) and Joy Kellum (Mark); her grandchildren, Chris McAlpin (Christie), Luke McAlpin (Genna), Sarah Gravlee Otts (Michael), Tyler Kellum and Darby Kellum; and four great-grandchildren, Kate, Rachel, Megan and Liam McAlpin. She is also survived by her precious daughter-in-law, Myara, her sister-in-love, Joan Tyler Michael, and her friend and caregiver, Linda Maynard Riley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Dr. Charles Tyler and Dr. Terrell Tyler; a great-grandson, Justis Michael Otts; and her son, Guy Gravlee III who died June 4, 2010.

Pallbearers will be Bill Beasley, Dr. Ken Harvey, Bryan Hawkins, Brent Heavener, Joey Hutto, Mike Marecle, Rick Maynard, and Jimmy Long.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. until service time at the church

Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 501 W. Main St., Tupelo MS 38804; or to Russian Mission Project, Park Place Baptist Church, PO Box 1497, Brandon, MS 39043.