June 26, 2025, 88, Goldsboro —

Mrs. Joyce Smith Coates left the confines of her cancer-strickened body to receive life eternal with her Lord in the early Thursday morning hours, June 26, 2025, while in the comfortable surroundings of her beloved home.

Mrs. Coates was the widow of Everette Allen Coates who died just a few months back.  Now they are together again, enjoying the splendor of heaven.

She had been a telephone operator with Southern Bell Telephone Company until she and Mr. Coates began operating their own poultry farm.  This farming operation was her primary occupation for the 40 year span, from 1967-2007.

A member of May’s Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church, it was in this church that she served faithfully in teaching all ages in Sunday school at one time or another.  She also had been active in what was the ladies auxiliary, which is now the ladies circle. Too, she enjoyed her involvement with the Never Too Old (NTO) group.  

Known to be an excellent cook, she was a gracious hostess,and was always eager to offer anyone a seat at her table.  Mrs. Coates, along with her husband, opened their hearts and their home to over 100 foster children upon whom they bestowed genuine love and encouragement in a Christian home.  Mrs. Coates, like her husband, enjoyed fishing, especially when their efforts would yield a fine catch.

Mrs. Coates, or Mama Joyce as she was affectionally called, leaves behind her five children and their spouses, Doug and Lynne Coates of Sleepy Creek, Dudley, the Rev. Terry and Julie Coates,  Karen C. and Dennis Morgan,  the Rev. Kelvin “Jaybird” and Christa Coates, and Lori C. and Chuck Thomas, all of the Mount Olive area a special son, Craig Rashaw and wife, Maggie;  her grandchildren, Lee Coates and wife, Kelsey, Dillon Coates, Madelyn Coates and fiance, Tyler Sanderson, Georgia Lynn Fulghum, Taylor Coates and wife, Kala, Brittany Gose and husband, Anthony, Joshua Morgan and wife, Sherri, Trevor Morgan and wife, Elizabeth, Savanah Jones and husband, Bradley, Jake Coates, Sally Coates, Aaron Thomas, and Bailey Thomas; great-grandchildren, Paisley Coates, Carson Coates, Lainey Coates, Addison Coates, Lenni Kate Coates, Kinsley Pearsall, Hadley Gose, Amberly Morgan, Tyler Morgan, Makenna Morgan, Olivia Morgan, Everette Morgan, and Harper Kate Jones; a brother, Jesse Barrow “J.B” Smith and wife, Sue, of Mount Olive; a special cousin, Sylvia Rohrbough; a special friend, Kat Wiggs; and all the many foster children that were a part of her life.

She now joins in heaven, her husband, Everette; her parents, Jesse H. and Lucy Barrow Smith; and a brother, Gerald Teel.

The gracious life of Mrs. Coates will be remembered in a service to be Friday, June 27, at 6:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Mount Olive (corner of East John and North Chestnut Streets).  Officiating will be the Rev. Jeff Daughtry.  Following the service, visitation will be in the church’s Christian Life Center.  A committal service followed by burial will be Saturday, June 28, at 11:00 a.m. at Wayne Memorial Park.  Memorial gifts may be made to May’s Chapel Church, PO Box 966, Dudley, NC 28333, or to Cure for the Colors, c/o Southeastern Cancer Center, 203 Cox Blvd., Goldsboro, NC 27534.