Joy Anderson
After a short illness, God has seen fit to be merciful to Joy and take her to live with him for the rest of eternity. Martha Joy Anderson passed from this life to the next early in the morning of September 3, 2021.
Joy was born at home at Sycamore Landing, TN to her parents John W. Anderson and Clara Weems Anderson. She was the fourth child of five, with three brothers and one sister. At an early age, she became a member of the Church of Christ, being baptized into Christ in the Buffalo River, and spent her life serving God and all those around her.
She had a long, distinguished career in Occupational Therapy. Joy graduated from David Lipscomb College in Nashville, TN with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She then attended Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. She began her OT career at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, VA. She started her teaching career as a faculty member at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI from 1968-1978 while also earning her Masters’ Degree in Occupational Therapy. In 1978, she moved to Richmond, KY where she began as an Associate Professor at Eastern Kentucky University, becoming Acting Department Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department in 1980, and Department Chair in 1981. She was instrumental in building the OT Department into the strong program that it is today. She returned to teaching full-time in 1996, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2006.
Because of her humble spirit, the awards and commendations she received were not widely known about. From being class valedictorian at Lipscomb to winning a Baptist Health Women of Courage Award just a few years ago, with numerous others in between. She also has a scholarship at EKU named in her honor, the “Joy Anderson Occupational Therapy Scholarship.”
She loved people and her two cats, Scully and Snuggles. She has been a member of her beloved church family, Richmond Church of Christ, since 1978. For many years, she worked with the college ministry, Colonels for Christ, encouraging countless students and becoming their mom away from home. She began the Women's Book Club at church and was its driving force through all these years, reading over 100 books since 2008. They met at her house to enjoy the book discussion, a sweet treat, a hot cup of tea, and good fellowship. She was incredibly hospitable, hosting numerous other events at her home as well. She was well known for hosting on July 4th so everyone could enjoy the local fireworks from her back deck.
Joy was fiercely independent, strong-willed, as well as incredibly compassionate and generous. She donated to multiple charities that were all dear to her heart. She loved college football and was a season ticket holder at EKU for many years. She was a faithful servant of the Lord who impacted countless lives around her. Her nieces and nephews adored her and she treated them as her own. She will be missed immensely, but we are so thankful for having her in our lives and look forward to our heavenly reunion.
She was preceded in death by her older brothers Ray Avalon and John W and her older sister, Mary Ethel Anderson Gattis. Surviving family include brother Joe W. Anderson and her six nieces and nephews who were her children that she loved and cared for deeply: Ron Anderson, his wife Renee, and their children Nicholas and Leigh Anderson; Melany Anderson Cox, her husband John, and their children Taylor Cox, and Jay Cox, his wife Emily, and their children Shep and Blevins Cox; Russ Anderson, his wife Cindy, and their children Katie and Hannah Anderson; John Gattis, his wife Crystal, and their son Zac Weisbard; Mark Gattis, his wife Dena, and their children Zoe and Malia Gattis; and Carol Gattis Haymes and her children Noah and Koby Haymes. She also had several generations of Anderson and Weems cousins who were dear to her.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at the Richmond Church of Christ, Richmond, KY. Her family will receive visitors from 2-4:00 pm with services at 4. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Richmond Church of Christ Guyana Mission Fund or Building Fund, 1500 Lancaster Road, Richmond, KY 40475. Oldham, Roberts & Powell Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.orpfh.com