Biography: Joyce Norwood Meadors, surrounded by her loving family, peacefully departed this earthly realm on May 28^th, 2022, to join family and friends in God’s eternal paradise. She was born in Morrilton, AR on December 13^th, 1940, to Truman Chester and Irene Crye Norwood. She was also the younger sister to Charles Chester Norwood.

Joyce attended Morrilton High School and the University of Arkansas where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. While in High School, she was a Majorette and Cheerleader. It was also where she met her soul mate and best friend, John Meadors. The profound love and affection they felt for each other was consummated by their marriage on January 27^th, 1961. It is a love affair that will last for eternity.   

She had an unwavering devotion to her family. She and John instilled in their sons a love of life, resolute loyalty to friends, deep Christian values as well as other life skills that would make them successful in any endeavor they undertook. When her parents were older and needed assistance, she didn’t hesitate to faithfully take care of them until their respective deaths.

Joyce always believed her family was her greatest achievement. She and John had two sons: Dr. John Meadors (Amber) and Mark Meadors (Michele). She had six grandchildren: Maggie Rosenheck (Ben), Claire Reed (Chad), Summer, Ethan, Mabry, and Elizabeth Meadors. She was also fortunate to see the birth of five great-grandchildren: Henry, Barrett, and Margot Rosenheck as well as Eloise and Daphne Reed.

She always believed it was both her Christian and civic duty to give back to the community. She helped mentor future generations through her involvement with her beloved Tri-Delt Sorority as a chapter advisor at both the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Little Rock. She faithfully served on the Alter Guild at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for over 40 years. She was a volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the former Red Door Thrift Shop, and countless other worthy charities. Later in life, she loved working part-time at the former Foster Cochran Company in Little Rock.

Joyce adored cooking, traveling with John, their friends, and of course, family. She treasured the times she and John spent with the entire family at ‘Loud Dunes’ in Destin, FL. She loved snow skiing, running as well as spending time at Lake Hamilton with George and Irene Davis, their families, and close friends. After Joyce and John’s sons had grown, she developed a passion for the game of golf where she played every week. In short, Joyce just didn’t live a good life, she lived a full, richly rewarding life.

One of her greatest delights was gathering weekly for lunch with her wonderful friends Carolyn Allen, Sharon Cissell, Irene Davis, Glenda Ensminger, Francis Mayhan, Barbara Moore, and Susan Overton.  Their gatherings came to be known to all as the “Friday Lunch Bunch”. When Joyce’s health began to fail, she was often accompanied to lunch with Michele’s mother, Betty Mabry, where they formed a lasting friendship.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, brother and sister-in-law Allan and Joanne Meadors, and several close friends. Those left to cherish her memory are John, their sons and wives, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister and brother-in-law Mary Dean and Jim Mainord, numerous nieces, nephews as well as her many friends.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 1^st from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. in Little Rock, AR.  A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at 1:30pm on Thursday, June 2^nd at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St. in Little Rock, AR. The Right Reverend Larry Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas will officiate the service. The internment of her ashes will immediately follow at the church. 

Joyce’s family is grateful to Doctors’ Kent Covert, Brett Ironside, and the incredible staff at Arkansas Hospice for the remarkable, loving care each provided at the end of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Joyce’s honor to either Delta Delta Delta Sorority, PO Box 9834, Fayetteville, AR 72703 or to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at the address listed above. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com