CONWAY – Joyce Hardy Deloatch, 83, died Sunday, May 27, 2012 at her home in Conway.  She had been preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Bernard Deloatch; parents, Myrtie Hale and Joe Hardy; and seven brothers and sisters.

A native of Halifax County she married Bernard and truly loved the farming life that they shared. She loved being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, enjoying all of the times she could spend with them. As a bride she joined Conway Baptist Church and remained there for 65 years teaching the Beginners Sunday School Class followed by several years teaching the 5 and 6 year olds.

Her survivors include two sons, Phil Deloatch and wife, Debbie, and Dennis Deloatch, all of Conway; one daughter, Paige D. Russell of Kill Devil Hills; five grandchildren, John and Dustin Deloatch of Conway and Jason, Cody, and Casey Russell of Kill Devil Hills; two great grandchildren, Riley Fenz of New Jersey and Wyatt Mooring of Chesapeake, VA; and one brother, Talmage Hardy and wife, Barbara, of Yorktown, Virginia.

A memorial service for her will be held Wednesday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. in Conway Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie McLawhorn presiding.  The family will receive friends in the church Social Hall following the service.

The family has requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift, please do so to Conway Baptist Church, P. O. Box 160, Conway, NC  27820 or to Feline Hope Animal Shelter, P. O. Box 893, Kitty Hawk, NC  27949.  Feline Hope is a nonprofit, no-kill, all volunteer organization dedicated to providing food, medical care and loving homes for cats and kittens.

Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway is in charge of arrangements.