Joyce Marie Adkins

Joyce Marie Adkins, 87, most recently of Frederick, MD, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Frederick Crossings of Journey, surrounded by her family, following an extended battle with lupus. 

Joyce was born September 2, 1938 in Branchland, WV and spent most of her early life in Huntington, WV. She was the oldest daughter of the late Rev. Wilburn and Verda Lucas. She is survived by her four children, Melody Wells, Sherri Noble (Joel), Steven Adkins (Amy) and Benita Casto; eleven grandchildren, Marcie (Dan), Michelle, Lucas (Leah), Joseff, Isabel, Joshua, Eleisha, Tabitha, Joy, Jonathan and Hannah; three great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Maxwell and Emmitt.

 In addition to her parents, Wilburn and Verda Lucas, Joyce was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Rev. Wandall Emmitt; her sister, Debbie; as well as her mother and father-in-law, Hubert and Ida Adkins, and 3 sisters-in-law and 7 brothers-in-law. 

She is survived by two siblings, Harold (JoAnna) Lucas and Danny (Janice) Lucas, and brother-in-laws Earl Hurd, Don Adkins and Hubert “Junior” Adkins (Judy). She is also survived by loving nieces and nephews and extended family. She loved her entire family passionately.

After graduating from Mainland High School in 1956 in Daytona Beach, Florida, where her family resided during her high school years, she went to school for comptomotry, continuing her career as a comptomotrist until she became a mother, as she chose to stay at home with her family. After graduation, her family moved back to Huntington, and she met the love of her life, Emmitt, at a revival her father was preaching in Lincoln County, WV. They were married in September, 1957. They resided in Huntington, WV the first year of their marriage, then moved to Ripley, WV when Emmitt began working at Kaiser Aluminum. They lived there for a few years and moved to Cottageville, WV in 1962, residing there for 56 years. Joyce was an avid homemaker and devout Christian. She lived her life for God and her family. She served alongside Emmitt as a pastor’s wife and prayed with and for friends and family. She loved music and sang in the Family Four Quartet with her father, brothers, and Emmitt in their early days of living in Jackson County. She loved her family more than anyone can express and was never too busy for her children or later on her grandchildren. They moved to Frederick, MD, in 2017, to be closer to their children and families. They resided in Spring Ridge Senior Community, and became close with the community there, enjoying new friendships and worshipping at the community church gatherings, while witnessing to others about Jesus. Joyce was known as a prayer warrior throughout her life. She suffered in her later years with lupus and severe neuropathy. The caregivers became close friends, like family and she was able to live alone until she went to the care center mid-June. She fought with all she had in her and assured the family she was ready to be with the Lord and her loving husband and family who had gone before her, but she was sad to leave her children and family here. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4: 7-8)

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Waybright Funeral Home in Ripley, WV on Sunday, August 2nd at 2 pm. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00. A graveside service will immediately follow at Jackson Memorial Gardens. Online memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.waybrightfuneralhome.com.