Martha Joyce

Martha Ann Woodard-Joyce, age 80 of Rising Star, Texas passed away on Friday, June 16, 2023, at home surrounded by family in Rising Star, Texas.

Martha was born on January 17, 1943, in Hodges, Texas to the late Barney Woodard and Annie Belle Jones-Woodard. Martha married Blake Thornton in November of 1961 in Abilene, Texas, who preceded her in 1972. On November 8, 1974, Martha married John Joyce in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Martha was preceded in death by her first husband, Blake Thornton; parents; siblings, Rupert Woodard; Gathrel Hickey; James Sims; Lola Faye Sims Henderson; Jake Woodard; Naomi Woodard-Ledbetter; Bobbie Dean Woodard; Marvin Woodard; Malcolm “Sonny” Woodard; Noland Woodard; Jerrel Woodard; stepson, Kim Joyce.

Martha is survived by her husband, John J. Joyce of Rising Star, Texas; son, Paul Thornton and his wife, Yvonne of Georgia; daughter, Malesa Ann Thornton-Martinez and her husband, Lloyd of Rising Star, Texas; stepsons, Kenton Joyce and his wife, Anja of Conroe, Texas; Kyle Joyce of Rising Star, Texas; daughter-in-law, Lisa Lynn Joyce; 3 grandchildren, Nicole Pezzini, Briana Wooten, and Alissa Joyce; 6 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Johnnie Woodard of Hodges, Texas.