Joy Smith Burton

August 3, 2022

Joy Smith Burton passed away peacefully at her home in Sharon Towers on August 3rd, 2022. Joy was born in Charlotte on May 6th, 1933 where she was raised and attended Central High School. Joy then attended the University of NC at Chapel Hill and majored in nursing in the first Nursing School offered by the University where she graduated as a Registered Nurse.

In addition to being a County Nurse, Joy spent many summers in the mountains of NC at Camp Ton-a-Wandah as a Camp Nurse. She loved her summers there with her girls. Joy’s love affair with outdoor adventure started as a young child when she spent summers on Lake Wylie in which Joy affectionally referred to the lake as “the Riverah”. Later in life, she and her husband, Lawrence, lived on the lake in a home that reflected Joy’s sense of adventure and style. Joy was also an avid reader and penned several short story books about Lake Wylie and her experiences, as well as stories about many colorful characters that lived around the lake.

Joy and Lawrence were frequent travelers and they were privileged to travel to many exotic places around the world. When they returned from their adventures, they many times would rest and relax at their mountain home in Saluda overlooking the Green Mountain River. For many years after her husband’s passing, Joy found her mountain home to be a place of refuge.

Joy was a member of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill.

Joy was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Weston Burton; father Frederick Vernon Smith; mother Isabel Pharr Smith; brother Vernon Smith and sister Letitia (Tish) Anne Smith Swaine. She is survived by her daughters Cathryne (Allan) Gilmour of Salisbury NC and Martha Linkous of Bluefield West Virginia; 3 grandchildren, Weston, Cortney and Leah and 3 great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Sharon Towers and the devoted care given by Care Haven Senior Home Care and especially Joy’s companion Diann Mason.

A graveside service will be held September 19, 2022 at 1:30 PM at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill in Charlotte.

Memorials may be sent to Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill 15000 York Road, Charlotte, NC 28278, or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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  • John Neilson

    While an 11th grader in 1973, a couple of friends and I visited Cherry Grove Beach for Easter weekend, and on the first or second day we went to a cottage where Joy was chaperoning a trip for her daughter and friends. I remember sitting on the floor against a wall when Joy walked in and, with a very distinctive and classy southern voice, asked if I was related to this Neilson and that one, who happened to be my uncles.
    Through my friendship with her daughter, I had the privilege of getting to know Joy, and over these many years we stayed in touch. She was always a pleasure to be with; she was a wonderful storyteller, smart, elegant, and very funny.
    Joy called me family, which was an honor, and I will always love and will never forget her.
    May God bless Joy and her wonderful family; I am very sad and sorry that such a wonderful lady has passed.

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