Lillian Joyce Harris Linch, 80, was born on Nov. 11, 1938, in LaGrange, to the late Elouise Dell Davis Harris and Thomas Cornelius “Neal” Harris of LaGrange.  After a long battle with dementia, Joyce passed away on April 3rd, 2019.

A celebration of her life will be held on June 2, 2019, at 2 p.m. (visitation following) in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church Shawmut (2300 23rd Dr, Valley, AL 36854).  The Reverend Chuck Anderson will officiate.

Joyce Linch was an assistant elementary school principal and teacher for more than 30 years.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in Elementary Education.  Her Master’s of Education was earned at LaGrange College and her certification in Instructional Supervision was from Troy State University.  She also attended Leicester Polytechnic in England and Auburn University.  She was an assistant principal at Crocker Elementary School in Hogansville, where she retired in 1999.  Joyce taught in the Troup County School System at Rosemont, Gray Hill, Tatum, and Mountville elementary schools.  She also taught at Springwood School in Lanett for 14 years as one of the founding faculty members bringing a new method of education to the area which was child-centered focusing on creative, active, hands-on learning.  She was on the board of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and the LaGrange Art Museum as well as an active member of the local Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society for women educators.

Joyce is survived by her sons, Edward “Ned” Hamilton Linch III (Linda) and Neal Scott Linch (Paula); her sister Ginger Harris Hall (Steve); her brother-in-law Bobby Gurley; and her brother-in-law Kelly Richard Linch (Carole).  Her grandchildren include Lee Harris Linch, Kelley Wittenberg Violante (Keith), John Hamilton Linch (Teague), Brian Michael Wittenberg, Sarah Scott Linch, Caroline Elizabeth Linch, Lützi Schlafli Linch, and Günter Switzer Linch.  Her nephews and nieces include Gay Gurley Popham (Ray) and Bob Gurley (Jo); Tripp Foster (Staci), Kasey Foster Bittner (Adam), Ashley Hall Campbell, Mandy Hall Hidalgo (Clark); and Rachel Hall; Scott Edward Linch (Amanda) and Alan Denton Linch (Erin).  She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward H. “Eddie” Linch Jr; her sister, Barbara Harris Gurley; and her nephew Kelly Richard Linch Jr.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 2321, LaGrange, GA 30241 or www.lagrangesymphony.org/giving/