Joyce Evelyn (Brewington) Locklear

Surrounded by her family, Joyce Evelyn Brewington Locklear heard the words “Well done, well done … thy good and faithful one,” as she entered her Heavenly home Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Services will be held Sunday, June 26, 2022 at New Bethel Baptist Church, with visitation at 2 p.m. and services beginning at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Mike Cummings and the Rev. Dr. Christopher Webb officiating the service.

Growing up on a farm, the daughter of a sharecropper and housewife, Joyce was the middle of seven children born December 21, 1933 to Lloyd Dixon and Mary Jones Brewington. In 1952, she married the late Williard Locklear, and to that union five children were born. She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church and the Coharie Tribe. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Mary Evelyn Locklear Daniel; and was the last living of her siblings.

Some of her favorite times were spent in her yard at home, sitting under the pecan tree, where she formed bonds and memories with her children and grandchildren. You could often expect a family gathering to lead to picking up pecans; line of chairs sitting under the tree as her family celebrated during their annual 4th of July fireworks party; bushels of corn shucked and peas shelled to be part of many summer family dinners; and just one of her many talks while swinging in the breeze.

Joyce retired from Sampson County Schools after serving the Native American students and her community as Indian Education Coordinator for 36 years.

A vivid storyteller, one of her most prized possessions is a copy of the Our State magazine that featured her, and hangs framed in her home.

Left to continue telling her story and share her legacy, Joyce is survived by her son, George Locklear and wife Debra of Raleigh; daughter, Lenora Locklear of the home; daughter, Janice Doochin and husband Larry of Franklin, TN; son, Stevie Locklear and wife Sara of Garner; her oldest granddaughter whom she raised, Kristy Carter and husband Ron of Clinton; her other grandchildren, Savanna Zinkow and husband Cosmo, Sarah Lotz and husband Matt, Thomas Doochin, David Doochin, Matthew Locklear, Hannah Doochin, Samuel Locklear, Simon Locklear and Scottlyn Locklear; great-grandchildren, “the twins” Jackson and Kennedy Carter, Avery and Pheonix Zinkow and Luke Lotz; a special niece, Carol Capps; and her caregiver, Lizzie Gilliard of White Lake.

The family has entrusted services to Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home.

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