Birth date: Dec 3, 1931 Death date: Jun 11, 2020
Carrol Joyce McConnell, 88, of Mesa, Arizona died Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Arbor Rose Senior Care in Mesa, AZ. She was born December 3, 1931 in Alameda, CA to the late Richard and Hazel Carrington. Joyce will be remembered as a Read Obituary
first met Joyce at Community Bible Study in Warrenton more than twenty years ago. We continued to meet at Ellen Osborne 's house during summer months, when CBS disbanded. I remember Joyce pulling up in Ellen's driveway in her beautiful, candy apple red mustang convertible. It was a gift from her husband, Jim, and she used it as a conversation starter to witness for the Lord.
Joyce was totally focused on Jesus. Her favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:4-5, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Through many challenges and heartaches, Joyce kept her focus on Jesus.
We also were members of the same Sunday School class together at Chapel Springs Assembly of God. Joyce and Jim were charter members of Pilots for Christ in Manassas, Virginia. Both of them used their God-given talents in His Service.
We were together at the Odd Fellows building in Warrenton as we prayed for the church planting of the Bridge Community Church. They were both dedicated to this mission and Joyce loved the Bridge.
After Jim went home to be with the Lord, Joyce invited me to Capital Christian Writers with her in Fairfax. I provided transportation and she provided the chocolate. It was a fair deal.
Those hours traveling from Warrenton to Fairfax and back were treasures. We prayed together for our families and enjoyed one another's company.
She published a book called "The God of Surprises ." The proceeds from her book was given to Wounded Warriors.
I loved to listen to her stories about her fascinating life. In her low-key way, she told.me about traveling to MacArthur's Japan with her first baby. She.told.me about her great-grandfather who was Secretary to Brigham Young, as well as one of his apostles. He was a brilliant man who planned the streets of Salt Lake City. She told me that her great-grandmother played her harp for Queen Victoria.
I loved the story about the dog named Lady who Jim trained to eat "Good Army Chow" and to refuse to eat "Bad Navy Slop"
Then there was the story about how she and Jim became missionaries in Cameroon. He originally didn't want to go, but a tragedy happened and he felt led to go to Africa, so they went.
Joyce moved into an apartment near our shop, so I would go over and fix her computer issues. If I didn't have time, I would send an employee over to work on it. Everyone at the shop loved Joyce
My family lived 500 miles away and her family had moved away due to job demands, so.it made me happy to assist her in small ways and in return, she counseled me about important things in growing in the Lord. She deeply loved her children, grandchildren and her extended family. She prayed continually for them. She had a prayer journal where she listed prayer requests for many people.
She accepted Jesus after reading a book by Catherine Marshall. It is a testimony that a woman who was brought up as a Christian Scientist and with a family history of Mormonism became a dedicated follower of Christ.
Her favorite Christian song was "You Are A Good Good Father." She loved that song. I think she may be singing it now.
I loved her so much.
Sharron Giambanco
Joyce was a very important part of the Virginia Pilots for Christ. She published the news letter and attended every event . If it was not for Jim I would have quit flying. He gave me a reason and I have been blessed ever since.
