Oct. 17, 1932 - Jan. 1, 2025
Joyce Conn, affectionately known by her family as Sweet Mama, slipped away gently into God’s eternal love surrounded by her children bidding her a heavenly journey on Jan 1, 2025. Joyce lived 92 years of life at its fullest with a deep Christian faith, a large, loving family, and an incredible career. Services were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Gray with Pastor Randy Darnell officiating. The family received friends at 1 p.m. before the service.
The grandsons and great-grandsons served as pallbearers.
Joyce was born October 17, 1932, to the late Lee Manuel Chapman and LouElla Wood Chapman.
After graduating from Jones County HS in 1949, she went to work in the accounting office of the J.C. Penney, Company.
In 1951, she met William Medlock Conn, Sr., a Mercer student who was visiting Cross Keys Baptist Church. During that time, visitors at Cross Keys Baptist would stand to introduce themselves. After the service Billy approached Joyce and said, “You have the prettiest red hair.” To which she responded, “It’s not red, it’s auburn!”
They were married 6 months later and for 34 remarkable years until his untimely death. They were the proud parents of six children, three boys and three girls. In 1986, she married Joseph Cornelius Folendore and they shared 23 blessed years together.
Her home was full of music. The alarm clock in the Conn household was Joyce playing the piano and as the music rang out, the children knew it was time to get up and get the day started.
Both Billy and Joyce were gifted musicians. Joyce loved playing all kinds of music, especially hymns.
She began accompanying at Pitts Chapel UMC in her teen years, Billy and Joyce were instrumental in organizing Cross Keys Baptist Chapel which became Immanuel Baptist where Billy led the music and Joyce played the piano during the sixties and seventies with all of their children seated on the second row every time the Church doors were open. Joyce was also an integral part of the establishment of the Central Baptist Church, a mission Church of First Baptist of Gray, by providing the initial meeting space at Conn Realty and providing the piano accompaniment.
When she married J.C.
Folendore, she attended New Salem Baptist serving as their accompanist. She played for church and revival services throughout her life. She expressed her faith wherever she was, but her gift as a pianist brought her great joy in the Lord.
Joyce Conn began selling Real Estate upon receiving her license in 1963 and placed it with Ed Willis Real Estate in Macon, GA. She received her Broker’s license in 1965 and placed it with Joe Patton at Allfarm Sales in Gray, GA. Joyce loved the real estate business. An early glass ceiling breaker, she incorporated her own Real Estate business, Conn Realty in 1978, as one of the first women brokers of her own business in the state of Georgia. She took great pride in knowing every inch of Jones County and much of the surrounding counties.
There was no one better if you had a question about real estate to get a quick and informed answer. Many in the industry depended on and respected her wise counsel in real estate dealings. Mama got a car phone in 1973, one of only 13 lines in Gray at the time. She was going to be selling Real Estate at Lake Sinclair and needed her children to be able to reach her! Joyce had many great agents and numerous clients and customers in and out of Conn Realty through the years and enjoyed enormous success in her industry built on integrity, hard work, and steadfast dedication.
Joyce was active in area civic clubs and served in many leadership roles. She was a Charter member of the Jones County Pilot Club, an active member and served as Regent of the Oliver Morton NSDAR, the Sara Bee Sunday School Class, and the Betty Faith Circle. As a realtor and licensed appraiser, she was an active member of the Macon Board of Realtors. Joyce Conn was a founding member of the Jones County Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Jones County Rotary Club, and served on the Jones County Tax Equalization Board among many other civic endeavors.
Joyce could be counted upon to provide her business acumen, her wit, and humor in whatever capacity she served.
Joyce enjoyed entertaining friends, playing the piano, and especially loved having her family gathered - whether around the piano or a table full of good food or at the beach. With so many children and grandchildren Joyce participated in and supported many PTAs, sporting events, and fine arts events for the betterment of her children and her community. Joyce loved Georgia Football, and especially the yearly bus ride to the Georgia- Florida game with a Jones County busload of dawg fans.
You could count on Joyce to always be positive about any situation and available when you needed her, if asked. Her love for her family, her friends, her county and her dear Lord and Savior guided her every day, her every decision. She will be missed dearly by her family, but we know she has earned her wings.
Her life journey evokes an Amen. Rest in peace Sweet Mama.
She is survived by Karen Conn Mitcham (Ben), Bill, Jr, deceased ‘96, (Tina) Conn, Bruce (Mary Beth) Conn, John (Sheila) Conn, Candy (Tom) McMahon, and Honey (Jack III) Miscall III, grandmother to Wilson III and Claudia Mitcham, Hight, Bill III, and Caroline Conn, Andrew, Morley, MacKenzie Conn, Lolly & Lock McMahon, Drake, Jack IV, and Eli Miscall great-grandmother of Benjamin and Rylee, Jayden and Joby, William IV, and Carsyn. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and LouElla Chapman, her first husband; Billy Conn, her second husband; JC Folendore, her oldest son; Bill Conn Jr., and her three siblings; Robert Lee Chapman, Nelson Chapman, her sister; Kathryn Fioretti, and her beloved friend, Verdell “Puddin” Exum.
Many thanks to the angels that cared for our sweet Mama, Angela Pitts, Rosebud Fluellen, Doris Irvin, Lillie Robinson, Mel Middlebrooks, Jan “Doodle” Hardin.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the church of your choice or one of the above mentioned churches.
Interment followed at Riverside Cemetery.
Gray Memorial Chapel is honored to be entrusted with the care of the Joyce Conn family. You may visit graymemorialchapel. com to register your online condolences.
