Johanna Harris Walters

Joy was born to Edwin Anderson Harris and Gladys Moore Harris in 1926. Before meeting, her parents had each been called to a life of missions. Along with their parents, Joy and her two siblings lived and served together as a family in Africa’s Belgian Congo from her 3rd to her 9th year of life. During this time, her two younger sisters were born. After a furlough back home in the states, her parents placed the three older siblings in Gowans Missionary Home and School, and returned to the Africa to serve in Nigeria with the Sudan Interior Mission.

Joy graduated from Houghton Bible College. She served as medical secretary to orthopedist Dr. Keith Haynes, orthopedic surgeon on staff at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ, as well as Dr. C. Everett Koop, chief of the surgical staff at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, later to become the Surgeon General of the United States. Speaking to Joy’s older brother, Dick, in 1986, Dr. Koop said that he still had fond memories of Joy as his very special friend and a “joy” to have around the office.

In 1967, she married J. Worth Walters of Easton, Maryland. Together, they decided that she would not go back to work, but would instead stay at home to be a mother, as well as invest herself in true “home missions.” She led a neighborhood Bible Study, sometimes two, taught Sunday school, participated heavily in WMU at the First Baptist Church of Easton, and served the Christian Women’s Club.

Joy is survived by her husband Worth Walters and their daughters, Jamie Lyn Walters of Alexandria, VA; Krista Walters Peterson (Kurt) of Saginaw, TX; René Walters Golden (Stan) of Cook Springs, AL. She is survived by four grandchildren, David Peterson (Angie), Bethany Peterson, Jonathan Peterson, and Kristine Golden. She is survived by her brother Richard B. Harris (Dorothy) of Mountlake Terrace, WA, and her sisters Lois Gilliland (Dean) of Claremont, CA and Charlotte Josephsen (Hans) of Midlothian, VA.

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their children, all of whom brought her great pride and happiness. Sending them cards was her especial privilege. The Hallmark card store will probably notice a drop in sales due to Joy’s passing! Joy was predeceased by her parents and her youngest sister, Rachel Carr.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at Bethel Baptist Church from 6:00PM until 7:00PM with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 7:00PM. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 8:00AM from the adjoining cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mom's memory to either of the following:

Bethel Baptist Church

8332 Moody Parkway

Odenville, AL 35120