She grew up in the Alliance Community in Jefferson County and attended Alliance Grammar School and graduated from Oak Grove High School. Joyce attended Liberty Baptist Church in Alliance for many years. After she married, she attended Brook Highland Community Church, formerly St. Johns Evangelical Church where she enjoyed the Bible study taught by Evelyn Landrum.
She was active in the Mary and Martha Society, a service organization. Joyce enjoyed shopping for their many projects. She and her husband Max ran Speedy Gonzales Restaurant and later, National Meat Market before retiring.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents: Marcel Frank Salter, Sr. and Edna Martz Salter; her brothers: Marcel Frank Salter, Jr. and Jack Salter and her husband, Max A. Kessler. Survivors include two children: Janet Miller and Allen Kessler and his wife Pamela Hallman Kessler; grandchildren: McKennon Reid Kessler, Conley Matthew Miller, Raegan Elise Kessler, McKenzie Carolena Miller and Sydney Diane Kessler; sister-in-law, Gail Salter; and several nieces and nephews. Joyce was a loving wife, mother and grandma.
Her Chapel service will be held Friday, October 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel, 800 Dennison Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211, with burial following in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 2:00 PM until service time at the funeral home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Kessler family.
