God’s faithful servant has joined him in heaven. Joyce (Joy) Dunlap Martin, age 88, passed on Saturday, December 18. Joy’s amazing and full life was spent in service to her Lord, family, friends, and community.
Joy was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida where she met and married Jack Martin, and they started their family. The family moved to Brooksville, Florida in 1966 where she and Jack supported their six children in all school, community, and church activities. Her love of children led to her beloved day care center “Children’s Carousel” which she operated for 15 years. Later, she and Jack opened their hearts and home to become emergency foster care parents. As a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brooksville, Joy loved singing in the choir, performing solos, and volunteering with all youth programs.
After settling in Jacksonville Beach in the early 1980s, Joy became a devoted and faithful member of Beach United Methodist as a Stephen’s Ministry member and Sunday School teacher. Her greatest gift was her years with HartFelt Ministries, joining in 2004 as the second volunteer. Never seeking recognition, Joy was awarded many times for her years of selfless service: 2006 with the Jacksonville Faith in Action award, 2009 recipient of the Female Senior Citizen of the Year award, Awarded the Presidential Volunteer award every year from 2010-2016, and in 2017 she received the Presidential Lifetime Service Award for donating 7,650 hours of service. Joy continued to serve until August 2020.
Waiting to welcome Joy home are her husband John Peter (Jack) Martin, daughter Jacquelyn Louise (Jacki) Martin, parents William Hersel and Callie Louise Giles Dunlap, and brother Kenneth Giles Dunlap.
Joy’s legacy lives on through her family. She is survived by her daughters Cheri Martin Garman, DeDe Martin Siciliano, and Beth Martin Langford (Lawton); her sons Ken Martin (Jennifer) and Jamie Martin (Sharon); her grandchildren Heather Garman Elliott (Aaron), Holly Garman, Jake Garman (LaDonna), Michael Siciliano, Andrew Siciliano (Lauren), Giles Langford (Jennifer), Callie Corbin Langford, Chrissy Martin (Austin), Jason Hohn (Aimee) and Josh Hohn; her great-grandchildren Reily, Bailey, Joey, Kelssey, Marcus, Tyson (Hannah), Parker, Payton, Izzy, Timmy, Jack, Auria, Grayson, Jayda and Jason; and her great-great grandchildren Rykir, Brooklyn and Marli.
The family would like to thank the staff of Anthem Lakes Senior Living facility for the love and care they provided Joy and Community Hospice for their support and guidance.
To celebrate Joy’s life, a service will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 2:00pm at the Beach Church Chapel at 325 7th Avenue North in Jacksonville Beach, with a gathering of friends and family to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to HartFelt Ministries at 7235 Bentley Road, Suite 107, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Please visit her Tribute online at www.quinn-shalz.com. Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, FL.