Joyce “Joy” Hyder O’Keefe, 84, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital. Born on March 28, 1936 in Surgoinsville, Tennessee, Joy grew up there until moving to Brandon, Mississippi in 1950. She graduated high school from Berea Foundation School in 1954 and from Berea College in 1958. Moving back to Mississippi after college, Joy went to work for the Mississippi Cooperative Home Extension Service from 1958 to 1996, finishing her career as an area director. She married Maurice C. O’Keefe, December 26, 1959, in Brandon, Mississippi, and they had one son, Brennan Maurice O’Keefe, in February 1970. While working full-time and being a wife and mother, Joy went on to get her Masters and Doctorate degrees in adult education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Upon retiring in 1996, Joy took up quilting full-time and enjoyed gifting a wide array of family and friends with her treasures. Because of her love of quilting, she and Maurice moved to Paducah KY in 2006. Joy belonged to quilting clubs in Long Beach, Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Paducah, Kentucky. She also enjoyed genealogical research, tracing the Hyder side of the family back to their arrival in the then British Colonies in 1729, and traveling. Joy and Maurice kept a large world map on the wall, marked with all the places they had been and where they hoped to go someday. She is survived by her brother, James E. Hyder, of Los Alamos, New Mexico; her sister, Gloria Richards, of Albion, Michigan; numerous nieces and nephews scattered around the country; and lots of cousins in Tennessee and Mississippi. Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Myrtle R. Hyder and Edward S. Hyder; her son, Brennan and husband, Maurice, both in 2017. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens with Rev. Tommy Tucker officiating. We appreciate your help in maintaining state mandated Covid restrictions. This includes wearing a mask and maintaining the minimum six feet of distancing within our facility at all times. During this difficult time of Covid, you may show your support by joining the “Hugs from Home” program where your message will be attached to a balloon in the chapel to remind the family of your love and support. Please go to www.milnerandorr.com to send a hug. You may leave a message of sympathy and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com