Joyce Harrison

Joyce Feemster Harrison passed away peacefully on October 25, 2021.

She was preceded in death by her beloved spouse, Moody Arnold Harrison, her parents, Joe and Mary Feemster, and her siblings, Joe McCarley Feemster, Jr., Martha Feemster Heege and Mary Ann Busby.

Joyce was a true Decaturite. She was born on November 17, 1934 at what was then called Emory University, Georgia. She lived her first 45 years in the same house on North Candler Street, practically across the street from the Decatur Depot.

She attended Glenwood Elementary and was a member of the last class which graduated from Decatur Girls High in 1951. In June of 1955 she graduated from the University of Georgia and immediately began her 32-year career with DeKalb County Schools where she taught first grade. She was a member of the original faculty who opened Knollwood Elementary in September 1955. The fall of 1976 she transferred to Dunaire Elementary and in the fall of 1988 transferred to Hawthrone Elementary where she completed her career, retiring in June 1990.

She was a dedicated member of Decatur Presbyterian Church and assisted her mother in caring for the infant nursery. On June 20, 1981 she married Moody Arnold Harrison, to whom she was introduced by a mutual friend, in the Chapel at Decatur Presbyterian.

Her marriage to Moody was full and rich with travel, grandchildren and God’s presence in their daily lives with their commitment to Northeast Baptist Church where Moody had been a founding member.

She will be loved and cherished by many and made the world a better place. She positively touched the lives of so many children in giving them a good foundation to begin their education.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 30th at A.S. Turner’s in Decatur at 11:00 am with a graveside service at Decatur Cemetery following at 12:30.

Due to her love of the history of Decatur and her love of children, memorial contributions are to be directed to Dekalb History Center, 101 E Court Square, Decatur, GA 30030 or Carroll County Child Advocacy Center, P.O. Box 314, Carrollton, GA 30112.