Joyce McFarland, 94

Joyce Waters McFarland, 94, of the Hopewell Community, died Wednesday, December 29, 2021.
Joyce was known by many names—Mom, Grandma, Maw-Maw, and Aunt Joyce, to name a few. She cared deeply for her family, her community and all those she knew, and she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more than anything in this world.
Joyce was always finding a way to give back to her family, friends, and community. Whether it was prayer for others, volunteering at Bethel Baptist Church, baking or cooking for the Hopewell-Hollis Ruritan Club, or gifting her delicious cakes, cookies and sweets to lucky friends, family, and even those she didn’t know—she dedicated her life in service to others and most importantly to serving the Lord. Joyce was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Joyce was the Wisdom Keeper for her family, the matriarch who led by example. She left her beloved family a legacy of how a Christ-follower should humbly walk through this life: living to the best of her ability like Jesus in all things that she did every day, and a passion to share that faith with others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Baker "Bud" McFarland, who together owned and ran Hopewell General Store in the community for many years. Joyce was the daughter of the late Oliver Claude Waters, Sr. and Vassie Cook Waters. She was also preceded in death by 4 sisters, Louise Waters Lassiter, Callie Waters Whitener Wright, Lillian Waters, and Nelle Waters Edwards; and her brothers, Eligah C. Waters, Bill Waters, and O.C. "Shorty" Waters, Jr.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Brenda McFarland Toney and J. Philip Toney of Ellenboro; a sister, Gay Waters Bostic of Laurinburg; her 2 grandchildren and their spouses, Donna Toney McDowell (Lee) and Allison Toney Byrd (Ken), all of Garner; her 3 great grandchildren, Mary Beth McDowell Perry and her husband Heath, of Clayton, and Noah Byrd and Hannah Byrd, of Garner; a great great grandchild, Mayer Perry; an "adopted" grandson, Bryan Winslow; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be conducted at 4:00 pm Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Bethel Baptist Church. The Rev. Michael Sepaugh will officiate.

The Visitation will be from 2 pm until 3:45 pm Saturday in the Family Life Center prior to the service.

A private burial was conducted at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, PO Box 633, Ellenboro, NC 28040.

Online condolences @www.washburndorsey.com.