Joy (McElroy) Downs

Rebecca “Joy” McElroy Downs of Statham, Georgia went to be with Jesus on January 26, 2024. She was born October 22, 1935, in Athens, Georgia, the second of two children of Leon “Burnis” McElroy and Lena Edwards McElroy, and grew up on a farm in Oconee County, Georgia in the Statham/Winder area. She attended small public schools of Oconee County and graduated from Bogart High School in 1953 as part of the first twelfth-grade class of Oconee County. She excelled in basketball for the school team and was a faithful member of and played piano for Hebron Christian Church.  She attended business school in Athens and was employed as an accounting clerk in Winder, Georgia.

Joy was preceded in death by her husband Robert A. Downs; her parents; sister June Pruitt and brother-in-law Harold Pruitt.

She is survived by her four children: Douglas and wife Mary Downs, Lisa and husband Fred Aares, Michael and wife Belinda Downs, and Rebecca Downs; her grandchildren: Blake Downs, Ashley Downs, twins Ian and Colin Downs, Andrew Martin and Selena Wolfe, Larry Vass, Bobby Vass, Trey MacQueen, Kari Prewitt, Cadence Downs, Hannah Block, Justin Terry, Kristin Taylor; her thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Joy will be greatly missed by all as an outstanding supporter of her husband’s military career and the unfailing love and affection for her children.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 31 at Lord and Stephens, West Chapel from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Joy will be laid to rest with her husband at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com