Joyce R. Irby

Joyce R. Irby, aged 88 years, passed from this life on February 27, 2022.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Dala Bray and Ms. Louise Burch Bray, and her brothers James, Richard and David.  She is survived by her brother Steve Bray (Virginia) of Gadsden, Alabama. Born in Clarke County on August 19, 1933, Joyce was a lifetime resident of Clarke and Oconee Counties.  She graduated from Athens High School in 1950, studied to become an LPN and began her career caring for others at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. Later in her career she worked as a nurse in Dr. Couch’s general practice, Dr. Roy Ward’s general practice, Dr. Tsao’s pediatric practice and she finished her nursing career in Dr. Vrana’s oncology practice.  Joyce married Edward (Junior) Denton in 1953.  They built a life for themselves over thirty years of marriage, enjoying a shared love of the mountains and raising four children together: Brenda Brooks (Alton), Tim Denton (Carrie), Donna Presnell (Eddie Barnett) and Todd Denton (decd.).  After Mr. Denton’s death in 1983, Joyce was introduced to, fell in love with and married Charles Register in 1985.  Joyce and Charles enjoyed their retirements by traveling, attending Tuckston United Methodist Church and spending time with family and friends at their home on Lake Hartwell for 12 years until Charles’s death in 1997.   Joyce was searching for a part-time home in the mountains of eastern North Carolina when she caught the eye of a retired Methodist minister, James (Jim) Irby.  Joyce and Jim were married in 1999 and spent their years together traveling and splitting their time between homes in Whittier, North Carolina; Clearwater, Florida and Athens, Georgia.  After Jim’s passing in 2008, Joyce spent her remaining years in Athens, surrounded by her friends, children, grand-children, great, and great-great grandchildren.  Joyce leaves behind and will be missed dearly by three children; Brenda, Donna and Tim, daughter-in-law Shelly Black, twelve grand-children, seventeen great grand-children and two great, great grand-children.  A graveside service will be held for Joyce at 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 at Evergreen Memorial Park in Athens, Ga.  Lord and Stephens East is in charge of arrangements.