Joilyn Cox Tanton

Wednesday, January 23, 1935 - Sunday, July 5, 2020

Mrs.  Joilyn Cox Tanton of Hartford went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, July 5, 2020 at her home.  She was 85.

A family graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at Tabernacle United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Tanton was born January 23, 1935 in Geneva County to the late C.A.F.  and Pauline Chandler Cox. Joilyn spent many years in the classroom and at the Florida Department of Education.  Joy was an accomplished musician, piano and organ.  Her ability to interpret the mood and message of hymns was unsurpassed. Having been encouraged by her mother to study piano in order to play for church, she had ample opportunity to exercise her talent as the wife of a United Methodist minister for nearly 66 years. Her greatest delight was her family: children of faith and grandchildren who continue to live that faith. Some of her needlework is of museum quality and all of the children and grandchildren are recipients of her quilts. She delighted in knitting over 100 sweaters for World Vision.  Joy’s acceptance of people and ready forgiveness grew out of her love for Jesus.

In addition to her parents, a daughter, Melany Tanton preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Rev. Jerry Allen Tanton; daughters: Miriam Sellers (George), Hartford, and Millicent Dobson (Steve), Tallahassee, FL; son, Jerry Allen Tanton II (Sondra), Hartford; grandchildren: Malorie Sellers (Ashley Kemper), San Francisco, CA, Camille Sellers, Kensington, MD, Zachary Lundgren, Atlanta, GA, and Emily Tanton, Hartford; brother, John Cox (Susan), Ozark; brother-in-law, Paul Tanton (Pat), Webb; several nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.