Mabel Joyce Tolar

Joyce Tolar, age 80, passed into her heavenly home Tuesday, March 1, 2016. She passed away at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS. Visitation and a celebration of Joyce’s life will be held Friday, March 4, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Laurel, MS. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the memorial service will take place at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow the ceremony at Hickory Grove Cemetery. The Reverend Mark Anderson will officiate. Joyce was born June 27, 1935 in Laurel, MS, where she lived her entire life. She was the youngest of six children born to the late Mabel (Burnett) and Dudley Alford Tolar, Sr. She was reared from age 2 by her paternal aunt, the late Sallie Tolar Shelton. Joyce graduated from George S. Gardiner High School and the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s Degree. She worked most of her career with United Gas and Entex, retiring after 35 years. An active, lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, Joyce loved music and sang in the choir for many years. Devoted to the Lord and her church, she volunteered and served in many areas of church ministry and service throughout her life. In addition to being an excellent cook, her favorite pastimes included traveling with her family. She traveled in all fifty states, most of Canada, and the Caribbean. She also delighted in doing water aerobics at the Wellness Center. In addition to her parents and beloved mother-aunt, Joyce was preceded in death by her siblings: Dudley Alford Tolar, Jr., Alvin Roy Tolar, Betty Sharp, Dorothy Vanderbilt and Bennie Tolar and nephews Gary Vanderbilt and Keith Eilermann. She was also preceded in death by two treasured sisters-in-law, Hazel Tolar and Betty Tolar. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Janet Tolar Eilermann, Terry Lane Tolar, Stephen Douglas Tolar, Susan Sharp Clanan, Robin Sharp Browning, Randy Vanderbilt and Theresa Vanderbilt Ferguson, as well as several great and great-great nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed. Pallbearers will be Troy Browning, Tim Clanan, Tim Daigle, Chad Eilermann, Stephen Tolar, and Terry Tolar. Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Laurel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Mabel Joyce Tolar

June 27, 1935 - March 1, 2016