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Clarke & Staples Funeral Homes, Inc.
    Saturday, March 11 2023
    Joyce Ellen Crafton Estes

    Posted by: Clarke and Staples Funeral Homes AT 01:50 pm   |  Permalink   |  17 Comments  |  Email
    Comments:
    So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers, Betsy
    Posted by Betsy Newcomb Long on 03/11/2023 - 03:39 PM
    So very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
    Posted by ginnawilson on 03/11/2023 - 04:50 PM
    A Beautiful soul who is the epitome of a ‘life well lived.’ My sincere heartfelt condolences to family and friends. May the memories of your time together with Joyce, comfort you in this time of sorrowful loss. I know nothing brought her more JOY than to see smiles on the faces of the ones she loved.
    Posted by Dawn Conrad on 03/11/2023 - 06:17 PM
    Joyce was a lot of fun to be with and always kept you laughing. My sympathy goes to you family.
    Posted by NANCY MARSHALL ALDER on 03/11/2023 - 07:20 PM
    Keeping the Estes Family in our thoughts and prayers.
    Posted by Wayne and Diane Powers on 03/12/2023 - 09:34 AM
    My sincere condolences and prayers to family and friends❤️�� Indeed she was an amazing woman.
    Posted by Bernard Tisdale on 03/12/2023 - 11:53 AM
    Oh, what a beautiful tribute to Joyce! Our Amedisys family truly loved taking care of her and are so sorry to hear of her passing. Please know our love is with you all!
    Posted by Shanna Atkins on 03/12/2023 - 12:23 PM
    I am so sorry for the loss of your precious mother. She was one fine lady and will be missed by so many. I'll bet she and daddy are back at it kicking up their heels. Love yall
    Posted by Patricia Moore on 03/12/2023 - 12:52 PM
    Always enjoyed the phone times with Joyce �� Regret that I never met her in person. �� for the family and friends and pets too.
    Posted by David Bolter on 03/12/2023 - 03:02 PM
    Always enjoyed the phone times with Joyce �� Regret that I never met her in person. �� for the family and friends and pets too.
    Posted by David Bolter on 03/12/2023 - 03:03 PM
    Always enjoyed the phone times with Joyce �� Regret that I never met her in person. �� for the family and friends and pets too.
    Posted by David Bolter on 03/12/2023 - 03:04 PM
    I am so sorry for your loss. May your precious memories bring you comfort during this time.
    Posted by Kay Martin on 03/12/2023 - 03:27 PM
    Sweet lady and loved by so many.
    Posted by Joyce Arthur Scott on 03/12/2023 - 09:43 PM
    My fond memories of Joyce go a long way back.God bless and comfort you in the days ahead,
    Posted by Jackie Conner on 03/13/2023 - 09:31 AM
    Tracey, Pattie and family We are so very sorry about your beautiful Mom’s passing. What a great, sweet lady who had so so many friends who will miss her dearly! Know that we love you all and are here for you if you need us for anything at anytime. We continue to pray for God’s peace for you all! God Bless!!
    Posted by Jack and Margaret on 03/13/2023 - 08:25 PM
    So very sorry for your loss. Joyce was one of a kind and I always thought of her every day. She was truly a super person. On Angel's wings she soars to the dance floor in Heaven. God Bless you all.
    Posted by Tamera Gehris on 03/16/2023 - 12:18 PM
    Tracy, So sorry to hear about your mom passing...I loved her a lot and I loved your Dad too. Praying for you and your family. Hope all is well. Miss those Ken Lea days.... Take care, Kathy Jeffreys Ashworth and Eugene Ashworth
    Posted by Kathy Ashworth on 03/20/2023 - 04:50 PM

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    Joyce Ellen Crafton Estes, 86, passed away  on March 11, 2023 after a prolonged illness. She was born on her family’s Crooked Creek Farm in Lunenburg on Dec. 15, 1936 to Stephen Harold Crafton and Ellen Bayne Crafton. She was a true child of Southside Virginia, growing up on the tobacco farm there, and continued to garden and raise animals all her life. She married her true love Harley Kendig Estes on New Year’s Eve 1955 and lived life on her own terms, going on to be surrounded by family and friends, to have a rewarding career and to enjoy the community she loved. She attended Kenbridge High School, where she was actively involved as senior class president, student treasurer, editor of the student newspaper “The Tinkling Bell” and more. She was valedictorian of the class of 1955 and was voted “Most Businesslike” and “Most Loyal to the Class” in her senior yearbook. She went on to graduate from Smithdeal-Massey Business College in Richmond and started her career as a legal secretary in Norfolk, Va. while her husband was stationed there with the Navy. When the young couple returned to Lunenburg County and settled near the Estes family homeplace Breezy Valley outside of Victoria, she remained busy, managing the family business Estes Auto Service Center and working for Commonwealth Tobacco. She retired from her long career as office manager at Imperial Processing Corp. in Kenbridge. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harley, her brother Richard Bayne Crafton and two infant siblings, Cecil Crafton and Geraldine Crafton. She is survived by her children, Richard Tracy Estes (Mary Ann) and Patricia Lynn Estes File (Gene); two grandchildren, Lindley Estes Thomas (Matthew) and Tucker Estes; a great-grandson Harley Thomas; a brother, Harold McCoy Crafton (Lynda); and numerous extended kin.  She is also survived by many loving friends who remember her as a woman who knew how to be in the moment, as her name would suggest, in joy. After retirement, she travelled the world, riding a camel to the Great Pyramids, swimming in the Dead Sea, lounging in the Caribbean, trying new cuisine in Europe and taking in the breathtaking views of Alaska. She loved a good, crisp glass of white wine and held weekly “Wine Time” with her friends and family. Joyce even made her own wine from grapes she grew. She was always the center of a good time for her community, having run the Strawberry Festival in Kenbridge for many years, and offering a piece of herself in every meal she made and every drink she shared. She never met a dance floor she didn’t enjoy.  She enjoyed this time of year, early Spring when the jonquils begin to poke their sunny heads from the ground once again and the promise of spring was evident in the land. We are glad she saw this season once again. Joyce’s faith was a constant comfort in her life, and she was a devoted member of the Good Hope Christiadelphian Ecclesia in Kenbridge, where she played the organ and is remembered for her large homemade lunches offered in friendship. The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 15 at the Kenbridge Heights Cemetery from 1:30 PM to start of services at 2PM. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations the first responders of your choice. Clarke Funeral Home, Kenbridge, in charge of services

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      Staples Funeral Home
      P.O. Box 96
      2300 Nottoway Blvd.
          Victoria, Virginia 23974   
      Phone: (434) 696-5502
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      Clarke Funeral Home
      P.O. Box 404
      110 E. Fifth Avenue
          Kenbridge, Virginia 23944   
      Phone: (434) 676-8281
      Fax: (434) 676-1425

           

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