Joyce Tallent Obituary

Joyce Taylor Tallent

June 26, 1926 -

October 23, 2024

Joyce Taylor Tallent passed away at NHC Nursing Home on October 23rd, 2024, after a brief illness.

Joyce Major Sessoms was born in Nashville, Tennessee on June 26, 1926, the third of five children of John Broadus Sessoms and Adelene Lackey Sessoms. She attended local schools, including Ward Belmont College, before graduating from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in English. It was there that she met Alfred W. Taylor of Milligan College, Tennessee, whom she married in 1948, before moving to Johnson City where she resided continuously thereafter. Joyce and Alf had three children, Catherine Hope, Alfred Alexander, and John Sessoms Taylor. Joyce taught elementary school in Nashville and Johnson City, the latter at University School and Towne Acres. While teaching, she obtained her Masters Degree in Education from ETSU. She was very proud of her career as a teacher and loved reading to her pupils, especially from her rocker after the children returned from lunch. It brought her great joy to be greeted by former students, who recalled with fondness Joyce's skill and compassion, as well as the love of learning she instilled in them.

As a lifelong Methodist, Joyce devoted herself to her church in Nashville and Johnson City. At Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, she taught the Martha Wexler Class for twenty years, deriving tremendous pleasure from the company of the "girls in her class", many of whom have remained connected to her through their thoughtful gifts and visits. They will likely never know how much they meant to her.

After the death of her first husband, Joyce married Dr. John Tallent, a man of great musical skill and retired professor of English at ETSU, who rose to be chair of that department. While only given a dozen years of marriage, Joyce and John Tallent enjoyed their time together, which included teaching reading at Coalition for Kids, numerous activities in their church, and travel. Upon Dr. Tallent's death, Joyce continued traveling with her sister, Eska Garrison, and close friend, Phyllis Holmes. Throughout, she was an avid gardener and quite good at bridge.

Joyce's membership in Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority in college was a continuing source of pride and colorful memories. Belonging to the Delta Kappa Gamma professional sorority burnished her credentials as a teacher and was something about which Joyce was intensely passionate. Among others, Joyce also was a member of the Junior Service League, Monday Club, Tuesday Book Club, Friday Bridge Club, the House and Garden Club, United Methodist Women, the Solon Gentry Sunday School Class, and the Johnson City Country Club.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Catherine Hope Taylor, husband Alfred W. Taylor, husband John B. Tallent, brothers John B. Sessoms, Jr., Henry M. Sessoms, and Bradford Kent Sessoms and sister Eska Garrison. Left to cherish her memory are sons Alfred Alexander (Alec) Taylor (Susan) and John Sessoms Taylor (Connie), seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, one surviving sister-in-law, Tammy Sessoms, many nieces and nephews, and friends too numerous to count.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the caring, capable staff of NHC Healthcare in Johnson City, who never flagged nor failed Joyce during difficult times. In particular, appreciation is directed to Station Nurse Chief Page Smith, Nurse Amy Edmondson, Nurse Kari Hughes, Physical Therapist Patsy Cantor, CNA Priscilla Bennah, and the many other CNA's, housekeeping workers, and dieticians who made a full life possible for Joyce while there. An extra special thank you is extended to the private sitters who gave Joyce warm smiles, good conversation, encouragement and so much more. They are Lindsey Honeycutt, Nicholette Stevens, Prya Lewis, Treazur Cassidy, and Naria Metcalf.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, anyone so moved may donate to the Catherine Hope Taylor Scholarship at Munsey Memorial Methodist Church 201 S. Roan St., Johnson City, Tennessee 37601, in Joyce's name.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home in Johnson City is assisting the family with arrangements. A service in honor of the life of Joyce Taylor Tallent will take place at Munsey Church on November 1st, 2024, at 2:00pm, with visitation preceding at 1:00pm. The Rev. Dr. Kip Laxson will officiate.