Obituary of Karen Lynn Shepherd Joyce

Karen Lynn Shepherd Joyce, 57, of Winston-Salem, passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2022.  She was born October 2, 1965, to the late Olin Shepherd and Helen Shepard in Winston-Salem.  She was an accomplished pianist and clarinetist.  She would get lost in her music and play for hours.  She was a graduate of East Forsyth High School, as well as High Point University where she double majored in Accounting and Business Administration.  She worked at RJR for 29 years as a financial analyst.   

Above all else, she was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.  She was married to her high school sweetheart “Mike” for 38 years, up until his death.  Her biggest accomplishment was her daughters.  She loved her daughters more than anything and passed that love onto her grandchildren.  She was their “grandmomma”.  

She may have been a small woman, but she made up for it with her can-do attitude and infectious personality.  It didn’t matter if you had never met her before, as she would talk to you like she had known you for years.  She had the gift of gab.  She was a selfless person who would try to help you any way she could.  

Karen was preceded in death by her father Olin, as well as her husband, William Michael “Mike” Joyce, Jr.  She is survived by her mother, Helen, of Winston-Salem, who she loved dearly.  She is survived by her little brother, Steve Shepherd, of Raleigh, who she loved to talk about terrorizing when they were younger.  She is also survived by her daughters, Lynn Hill (Andy) of Cary, and Sara Joyce of Winston-Salem; her grandchildren, Kaitlynn, Khloe, and Alexander Hill, of Cary; and by her forever loyal furbaby Lotti.  

Funeral services celebrating her life will be held 2:00PM, Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services Kernersville Chapel. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Walkertown, NC. The family will receive visitors from 1:00PM to 2:00PM Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.piercejeffersonfh.com