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.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel. The burial will follow the service at the Rising Star Heritage Cemetery in Rising Star, Texas.
The family will have a time of visitation on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM at Higginbotham Funeral Home, 309 N E 4th Street in Cross Plains, Texas.
Martha was born on January 17, 1943, in Hodges, Texas to the late Barney Woodard and Anne Bell 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, Rubert Jones; Gethriel Jones; James Sims; Lola Faye Henderon; Jake Woodard; Naomi Woodard; 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, Jonnie Woodard of Hodges, Texas.
Family and friends may sign the guest register book and/or send condolences at https://www.higginbothamfuneralhomecrossplains.com/
Higginbotham Funeral Home of Cross Plains, 309 N E 4th Street. 254-725-6153 is in charge of arrangements.