02/19/13 - NNHS Newsletter - Jimmy "Gaffer" Joyner
James Otis Joyner
(11 Dec 1927 - 09 Feb 2013)
Newport News High School Class of June 1944
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02/19/13 - NNHS Newsletter - Jimmy "Gaffer" Joyner
James Otis Joyner Newport News High School Class of June 1944 |
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Dear
Friends and Schoolmates,
There is
more sad news this Tuesday.
Jimmy
"Gaffer" Joyner,
Class of June 1944,
father of Gregg Allyson Joyner Smith and of the late
Jim
Joyner
(21 Sept 1953 - 01 Sept 2006)
(See:
http://articles.dailypress.com/2006-09-05/news/0609050090_1_desert-storm-christopher-james-joyner-saudi-arabian-government)
, passed
away at his home in Hampton on Monday, February 18, 2013 at the age of 85.
From the Daily Press - 02/19/13:
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James
O. Joyner, Sr. |
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HAMPTON - It is with great
sadness that I, and his family report that our beloved husband, James O.
Joyner, Sr. and "Gaffer" passed away on Monday, February 18, 2013 at 1:30 AM
of complications resulting from a stroke that he suffered on January 22,
2013.
He was born on December 11, 1927 in Newport News and passed away on to a better life at his home with his loving family by his side. |
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| Jimmy "Gaffer" Joyner | |||||
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His surviving
family include his wife Betty of 64 years, whom he met and married in 1948; his
daughter Gregg Allyson Smith and her husband Bill; three grandchildren,
Stephanie M. Harris and her husband Dan and their two children, Marley and Cole;
his grandson James (Jay) Melton and his wife Nancy and their twin daughters,
Olivia and Harper; his grandson Christopher James Joyner; and his
daughter-in-law Patricia K. Joyner. His extended family includes Natalie Cumpson
his "adopted granddaughter of Hampton; his ex son-in-law Wayne Melton of
Yorktown; his brother-in-law Henry Guilford of Hampton; and three
sisters-in-law, Ruth McVay of Yorktown, Mary S. Pencola of Pennsylvania, and
Regina Pencola of Smithfield; his many nieces and nephews (by marriage) Joe,
Michael, JoAnn, Dianne, Helen, Johnny, Jimmy, Annamaria, Andy, Donnie, Marie,
and their spouses and children. His family knew him as "Gaffer" or Uncle Jim.
He is preceded in death by his only beloved son, James O. Joyner, Jr. who passed away in 2006; his parents Mildred and Willie Joyner; his sister Beverly Ann Guilford; and special nephew Ben McVay of Petersburg. Jimmy was a consummate and talented musician and began his professional career at the tender age of 12 and he never retired as a musician. He graduated from Newport News High School in 1944 during the WWII era. He was very proud that he was part of what Tom Brokaw stated in his book, "The Greatest Generation", that "It is, I believe the greatest generation any society has ever produced." The times of the big band sound! Jimmy loved the Glenn Miller Band, the Woody Herman Band, Count Basie's Band and the Buddy Rich Band. In 1946/47 he was drafted and joined the Army. Because of his talent he was dubbed "bandsman" and assigned to play in one of the Army dance bands entertaining many of our soldiers returning to and from active duty. On returning to the civilian life in 1947 he took up his career as the drummer in most of the big bands on the Peninsula - the Jet Rollo Band, the Bill Clements Band, Jimmy Marshall's Band and the Red Himes' Band. In later years he was a proud member of the Peninsula Retired Men's Band until his recent hospital stay. In addition to his musical career, Jimmy had a career at NACA/NASA in the Reproduction Division until his retirement in 1985 with 38 years of government service. Our family will receive friends from 1 to 2 PM Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, where the Retired Men's Band will pay their last respects to their friend Jim. Danny Owens, Senior Pastor of West Hampton Baptist Church will conduct the funeral service at 2 PM. Burial will be conducted in a private service in Hampton Memorial Gardens. So that Jimmy's music can still be appreciated by the many senior citizens in the many nursing homes in our area, we ask that in lieu of flowers you make a contribution to The Retired Men's Band in care of Bobby McWithey, 905 Catalina Drive, Newport News, VA 23608. In this way you will be helping to continue the band's effort to provide music and entertainment to the many nursing homes, retirement communities, and churches in the Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg areas. This was Jimmy's way of giving back what he always received from his musical career - the love of good music. We thank each of
you for your prayers, for the special cards, e-mails and telephone calls during
his brief illness. We also thank the special care that he received from the
doctors, nurses and aids at the Sentara CarePlex and Rehab Center. God bless
each of you. Please leave condolences at
www.wjsmithandsonfh.com.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. |
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February 19, 2013
Our thoughts and
prayers are with Betty and the family during this sad time.
~ Nancy and Stewart Rodgers, Newport News, Virginia February 19, 2013
So sorry
for the huge hole Gaffer will leave in so many people's hearts. My love
and prayers to Grammy, Gregg, Steph and Nat and all those who loved him. February 19, 2013
Our
thoughts, love and prayers go out to all of you. May God give you peace
and comfort Aunt Betty and Gregg. Uncle Jimmy is up there playing with
all the big band leaders now - making heavenly music. February 19, 2013
Grammy, (that's the only name that I know you by through Nat)....You and
your entire family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers
throughout the days ahead. Although I only met Gaffer once, I certainly
know how much he will be missed by so, so many.
February 19,
2013
February 19, 2013 
W~ February 19, 2013
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February 1 I
February 19,
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Our deepest
condolences are extended to Mr. Joyner's family and friends at this difficult
time.
Y'all take good care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!
Love to all, Carol
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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
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Carol Buckley
Harty
7020 Lure Court
Fayetteville, NC 28311-9309
915-780-3048
I'll Fly Away
Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
I'll fly away oh glory
I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly
I'll fly away
Oh how glad and happy when we meet
I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I'll fly away
"I'll Fly Away" midi courtesy of http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/MyGospelMidiPage/MyGospelMidiPage.html
- 04/08/10"I'll Fly Away" lyrics courtesy of http://www.bluegrasslyrics.com/all_song.cfm-recordID=s07622.htm - 04/08/10
Greg Olsen Paintings courtesy of
http://gregolsengallery.com – 01/27/05Animated Army and Navy Flags clip art courtesy of http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/KevsGifsGalore/Patriotic.html - 06/18/03
Bethel High School's Bruin clip art
courtesy of Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) of VA - 03/22/06 (replaced
02/23/09)
Thanks, Eric!
Musical Divider Line clip art courtesy of - um, I am unable to locate that information at this time.