Joyce Cox Watson, who was 81 years old, peacefully passed on to her heavenly home at the home of her daughter and son-in-law Terry and George Peele, of Plymouth, on Nov. 17, 2018, after a long illness.

Joyce was born in Pitt County on April 3, 1937, to the late James Calvin Cox, Sr. and Lucy Mae Stocks Cox. On Sept. 5, 1953, Joyce married Preston W. Watson, Sr. and they were happily together for 65 years. She was an active member of Plymouth Church of Christ. She was employed as a manager of Cato Fashions for 19 years. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and aunt. She was a generous and giving person always taking time to be there for others. She always put everyone else’s needs before her own. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Preston W. Watson Sr., of Plymouth; four children, Fay Peyton and husband Steven, of Kill Devil Hills, Preston Watson, Jr. and wife Gwyn, of Plymouth, Marlene Hardison and husband Wilson, of Winston-Salem, and Terry Peele and husband George, of Plymouth; eight grandchildren, Michelle McCombs, Trevor Spruill, Jenny Clark, Joshua Hardison, Marty Thompson, Amber Peele, David Peele, Nicole Specht; eight great-grandchildren, Rachel and Laren McCombs, Joyce Peele, Sabastian and James Reiman, Alex and Christina Clark, Adalyn Specht; brother, J. C. Cox, Jr.; and many special nieces and nephews, especially Lois O’Dell, who was like a daughter to her.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Andy Thompson; sister, Marie Foreman; two brothers, Don Cox and Ray Cox, Sr.

The family will receive friends at the home of Terry and George Peele, 354 White Oak Road, Plymouth.

A funeral service will be at Plymouth Church of Christ on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., with visitation being before the service at the church from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.walkerfh.net.

Walker Funeral Home of Williamston is serving the Watson family.