Joyce Phillips Griggs

Nona Joyce Phillips Griggs funeral services for Nona Joyce Phillips Griggs, 82, of Cullman AL will be, October 5, 2023, visitation at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home Chapel 6pm-8pm. Funeral service at 11 a.m. October 6, 2023, at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Samuel Tucker and Matthew Bauhaus officiating, with interment at Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home oversees arrangements. Mrs. Griggs died Monday October 2,2023 at her home. She was born, May 14,1941, in Cullman County to Dumas and Annie O. Veal Phillips. Joyce was the baby of a large family and met her husband at the young age of 15 and married her David at 16 years old. Joyce and David were married for 63 years at the time of his death in 2020. He truly was her soul mate, and they always kept the “Love tank full”, as David would refer to it. Joyce was always a very driven woman and a Pioneer of her time in the Insurance profession. In 1976, David had put in his resignation at Farm Bureau Insurance, he told the manager I am leaving to go back to the farm, but I am sending Joyce in my place, after a few weeks, the manager then called him and said, “David you stay at the farm Joyce will do fine”. Joyce continued the Insurance Career Path and attended Secretary school, Passed her P & C License, Life and Health License, Series 6 , and Series 63 all before 1986. Women in the workplace in this time was very unheard of especially in the insurance Industry but she made it look easy. In 1984 she was offered an official contract to sell exclusively for Nationwide Insurance, she was one of the first female owned agencies in the company. The agency won countless distinguished Nationwide awards, MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table her first year $1,910,700), Presidents 6, Champion Award 12, Life Anniversary 10 plus, and Chairman award to name a few. David and Joyce had a long heritage in the insurance industry with both their children and all the grandchildren being involved in the Agency at one point or another. Kimberly, her daughter took over the agency in 2004 as the agency owner and Stephanie was added to the agency as a producer. Joyce was retired but continued to work in the agency until 2019 and she officially retired to spend the remainder of the days that David had, and they made the best of the time left. Joyce and David’s most shining facet, other than an undying love for each other was their love for their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, instilled in them at an early age by their wonderful parents. Joyce cared for her family and neighbors alike, never making a distinction between the two, and in doing this as well as so many other ways, practiced her faith here just as Jesus instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves. As Christians, we are adopted into God’s family and so many were adopted into Joyce and Davids family. Lasting memories of Joyce will be her love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, the love for her fellow man and her service to her clients Joyce always had a smile and warm loving hug as a greeting. So it is with great assurance that I can say as she took her last breath here on earth, Joyce met her Lord and Savior with a smile from ear to ear, arms stretched wide and heard these words, Well done my good and faithful servant, well done.” Nona Joyce, we’ll miss you, but look forward to the day we will see that smile and feel that warm loving hug. She was preceded in death by her husband brothers, Troy Phillips, Alvin Phillips, Floyd H. Phillips and sister, Melba McKinney Survivors include her sister, Irene Graham; son, Chris (Cindi) Griggs and daughter, Kim (Phil) Hale. She had five adoring grandchildren, Jonathan Griggs (Emily Davis), Meagan (Daniel) Martin, Stephanie (Garrett) Dye, Nicole Hale & Samantha (Patrick) Blythe. She was also blessed with 7 great grandchildren, and nothing brightened her day more than a visit from Kamden, Kenley, Cooper, Charlie, Maggie Jo, or Olivia.

Joyce Phillips Griggs

May 14, 1941 - October 2, 2023