Brevard - Joyce Gray Young passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on Saturday, July 11th, 2020 surrounded by her children and family.
As a wife and mother, Joyce was the definition of unconditional love and would impact everyone she encountered with her infectious smile. She was always prepared to offer a song and loved singing and music. Joyce was always the happiest when she was helping and serving the needs of other people. She was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located in Brevard.
Joyce grew up in the Garner, NC area where she developed her lifelong love of music and singing. She released two songs in 1959 under the name of “Joyce Gray and the Melody Masters” which led to an appearance on American Bandstand. She attended Garner High School where she won the title of Miss Garner in 1960. In 1962, she married James “Buddy” Young and remained in the Wake County, North Carolina area where they were the owners and operators of two restaurants: The Red Carpet and the Conestoga Steak House. In 1975, Joyce moved to Transylvania County with her husband and children. They owned and operated the Red Lion Inn (Bed and Breakfast Inn and Fine Dining Restaurant) located in Rosman NC as well as the Young’s Country Inn located in Brevard NC. For over 30 years, family and friends gathered annually at the Red Lion Inn to celebrate the Easter holiday. Joyce was also a successful real estate agent and owner of Joyce Young’s Realty located in Brevard, NC. Her business motto was “Too Us You’re Family”.
Joyce was born in Johnston County, North Carolina on March 24th, 1942 to Charles Howard Gray and Zola Ree Murray Gray. She grew up in a large family with 10 children that included 5 boys and 5 girls. She married James Harvey Young on August 19th, 1962 and they were happily married for 50 years. James Harvey Young passed away on September 29th, 2012.
Surviving are her three children; daughter, Charlene Humphries of Leicester, son; Buddy G. Young and wife Lisa of Clayton, and daughter; Darlene Cope and her husband Scott of Penrose; sisters, Betty Ree Hobbs and husband Dale of Garner, and Zola Diane Gray of Hendersonville; 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 1 PM Friday, July 17th, 2020 at the Moody-Connolly Funeral Home located at 181 South Caldwell Street in Brevard, N.C. with Scott Cope officiating. Immediately followed by the burial at Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.