Joyce Ann Moffett

Joyce Lifford Moffett of Bradenton, FL entered her promised Eternal Rest on Sunday, August 23rd.  She was born in London, England and as a child lived through the London Blitz.  She was a product of the ministry of the London City Mission.  A graduate of Mount Hermon Bible College, she further trained at one of George Mueller’s orphanages in Bristol.

 

Called to the mission field as a young person, she traveled to Peru as one of the only passengers on a trans-Atlantic freighter.  Eventually, Joyce would live in six different countries. In Peru she traveled through the jungles via moped and canoe.  It was in Peru she met and married fellow missionary David Moffett.  

 

David and Joyce eventually moved to St. Petersburg, FL where Joyce served in many capacities at Northside Baptist Church and worked for both Keswick Christian School and Northside Christian School.  Later, she worked for Healthy Families agency in Pinellas County.

 

When David and Joyce returned to the mission field, Joyce was integral to introducing the children’s ministry Awanas to the region of Barquisimeto, Venezuela.  Even in retirement she loved to offer encouragement from the Word.  She was an active volunteer at the Boutique at the Bradenton Missionary Village (Il Villagio).

 

She raised and prayed for her three sons, Tim, Andrew, and Mark.  She proudly held onto her British citizenship even as she embraced the traditions of America.  She became a fan of the Rowdies, Bucs, and Rays.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents Lottie and Arthur Lifford of London.  She is survived by her husband of fifty-one years, David; her sons Tim and his wife Susan of Hammond, LA, Andrew and his wife Christine of Lima, Peru, and Mark and his wife Joy of Charleston, SC; and six grandchildren Adam, Ashley, Noah, Landon, Sofia and Kayla; by her brother John and his wife Sandra of Northampton, England; and several nieces and nephews on both sides of the Atlantic. 

A graveside service will be held at the Skyway Memorial Gardens in Palmetto, FL on September 2 at 10:30 am with Pastor Phillip Hamm officiating. 

 

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Missionary Assistance Fund at Il Villagio (℅ Ed Johnson 11919 14th Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34212).