Joyce (Jones) Heilig

Alma Joyce Jones Knight Heilig died on February 27, 2023. She was born November 25, 1925 in Dooly County, Georgia to Stanford Jackson Jones and Viola Victoria Virginia Varnadow Jones. She moved to North Carolina in 1936, attending schools in Salisbury and graduating from Cooleemee High School in 1942 as valedictorian. After an intensive business course she went to work for Morris Plan Bank (one of 5 employees). This soon became Security Bank & Trust Company, which grew into a well-known and popular regional bank. She worked for them for the next 39 years, retiring in 1981 as Assistant Vice President.

She married James Woodrow Knight in 1943. A Paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division of the US Army, he was killed in service during WWII on December 11, 1944. They had one son, James W. Knight, Jr. She later married Theodore L. Heilig and had another son and a daughter. She and Theo were happily married for 60 years until his death on May 5, 2008.

Joyce and Theo loved to travel and took many great trips, including Europe, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand. They also had a motor home and enjoyed seeing this beautiful country, visiting every state in the contiguous US. In addition, Joyce had her own travel adventures, including going to Thailand and China with a friend and to Costa Rica with extended family.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, she was very active in her church and community. As a charter member (and long-time treasurer) of the Salisbury-Rowan Quilters Guild, she made many beautiful – and a number of award-winning – quilts, before she lost the use of her left arm. An avid reader, she was a member of the Lisons Book Club until it aged out. She was also a member of the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter of the DAR, where she served on numerous committees and acted as treasurer for many years. And she was actively involved in the Celebration of Life group, as a 59 year breast cancer survivor. She was a charter member of the Chestnut Hill Neighborhood Association, serving on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer.

Joyce was very committed to her church, Haven Lutheran. She was a lifetime member of the Lutheran Southern Seminary, long-time Treasurer of both the WELCA and Minnie Phillips Circle, and a member of the Walt Wagoner Sunday School Class. She served several terms on the Church Council as well as other committees, including chairing the Endowment Trust Fund. Joyce was also a tireless worker with the Haven Church Quilters Group, a group of 4-6 women who made thousands of quilts for the needy. She truly enjoyed the fellowship and the happiness of helping others.

Never one to be idle, Joyce was an ardent worker of crossword puzzles, a prolific baker of Nana’s famous chocolate chip cookies, and always had some form of crocheting or other handwork underway.

She is survived by son James W. Knight of Raleigh, son Theodore A. Heilig (Paula) of Brentwood, TN, and daughter Lynn Heilig (Mark Lewis) of Boulder, CO. Other survivors include granddaughter Kelly (Knight) Gyure (Mike) of Frisco, TX and their children Brayden and Savannah; granddaughter Marci (Knight) Chermak (David) of Winston-Salem and their sons Stephen and Pierce; grandson Graham Heilig (Angie) of Orange Park, FL and their sons Robert, Christian, and Jordan; granddaughter Kirsten (Heilig) Lowe (Justin) of Nashville, TN and their children Brenton and Adelynn; granddaughter Genni Clement (Walker) of Fort Collins, CO, and grandson Adam Kee of Fort Collins, CO. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. Besides her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister, Jewell Jones Small, a brother, Herbert Candler Jones, and two infant grandsons.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 4th at Haven Lutheran Church (207 W. Harrison Street, Salisbury, NC 28144). Visitation will be at 11 am, with the funeral service at Noon. Burial will follow at Rowan Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Joyce’s memory to Haven Lutheran Church or to the Employee Fund of Trinity Oaks (728 Klumac Road, Salisbury NC 28144), where she lived and received loving care.

Lyerly Funeral Home is serving the Heilig family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

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