Joy Annetta Coulter

Joy Annetta Coulter, age 77, passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was born on March 4, 1945, to her parents, Brooks and Jessie (Miller) Standifer and grew up in Sale Creek, Tennessee. Her strong work ethic, self-discipline, and self-motivation stemmed from the many lessons of hard work on her family’s farm. She often called those lessons “Tales From a Farmer’s Daughter.”

These qualities served her well in life as she was often sought out to manage local stores and even owned and operated her own business. “Your word is your bond!” was one her sayings. If she said she would, she did! Her entire family admired her gifts of administration, preparedness, trust-worthiness, and dependability and regarded her as a true Proverbs 31 woman.

On a beautiful summer day, her future husband, Joe Coulter, spotted her at Browns Bridge and said "she is the prettiest girl I've ever seen. When she looked at me, I knew right away that she would be my wife.” On November 11, 1961, their dear friends, Gene and Linda Bradshaw, went with them to be married at Graysville Church of God. She was a devoted wife to Joe for 50 years and dedicated her life to being a loving mother to their children, Annetta Jo, Tina Louise, and Brooks McClure. One of her proudest accomplishments in life was nurturing the gift of music in her family. With Joe’s support, she set it in motion with “The Singing Coulters.” Her great legacy is the gift of music in her family.

Joy was an avid student of God’s word. When unfortunate events occurred in her or her family’s life, she would always say, “We have to remember that our steps are ordered by the Lord! We might not understand, but we know that He is in control.” She used her passion for God’s word to teach Sunday School at Graysville Church of God and treasured the time teaching the young adult class.

She devoted her whole life to others - those in her family and even to strangers. When God revealed a need to her, she delighted in blessing others with a gift of money in a kind handshake with a “God Bless You.” Being a fantastic southern style cook, she enjoyed sharing homemade dumplings or a delicious pot of pinto beans and a side of cornbread! Having a meal at “Mamaw’s House” was a real treat!

She surrounded herself with those who loved her and with whom she felt most comfortable. Being a private and fiercely independent woman, she seldom made any need of her own known to anyone even in the darkest times of devastating loss or illness. Instead, she laid every need at the feet of Jesus, in whom she placed all of her trust and hope. “God has always provided for me!” was often said by her.

In addition to a long friendship with her best friend, Phyllis Aslinger, some of her greatest joys in life were the sweet relationships she enjoyed with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved playing, baking, crafting, teaching, making music and more with them - and they with her!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Coulter; her parents, Brooks and Jessie Standifer; her brother, Albert Standifer; her sisters, Juddy Smith, and Phyllis Killian; and her great-grandson, Kiefer Sanderlin.

She is survived by daughters, Annetta Langston of Dayton, and Tina (her favorite son-in-law, Jeff Hood, “the only one brave enough to stay” - her witty sarcasm!) of Prattville, AL; her son, Brooks (Rose) Coulter of Dayton; her nine grandchildren, Jessica (CJay), Lacey, Brooke (Justin), Jared, Jamison, Charlie, Tonya, Kaylan, and Celsey; her ten great-grandchildren, Savannah Joy, Jakeb, River, Xander, Liam, Brooks Allen, Jasper, Elizabeth, Conner, and Oaklee; her family, Nick Sanderlin; and dear friend, Joe Holland, who often treated her with doughnuts left on the front porch swing before she woke. Many mornings she would say, “Check to see if Joe left a present for me on the porch swing.”

In her own words written at Joe’s death, “Joe, my husband of 50 years and 2-½ months, my hero, passed away today to enter into the heavenly eternal home of peace and beauty and light - no darkness, no pain, no fear. Behold the Lamb of God!”

Her children now say of her, “Momma, our precious and loved mother, our hero, has passed away to enter into the heavenly eternal home of peace and beauty and light - no darkness, no pain, and no suffering. You fought a good fight, you kept your faith and finished your race. We are so proud of you. Rest in peace, Momma - our family’s heart, strength, and foundation. We will see you again in our heavenly home.”

She left a written prayer for her family which we found after her passing. “Set the blessing of divine communion over my children and their house tonight. Rest Lord, in their life. Just bring Him into your home. Ask Him in. Rest in my house, Lord - come stay with me. I will host you in my house. My reward is not stuff - but you, Lord, and Your presence. You are my exceeding and great reward. Everything else is just overflow of Your presence. You are my Bread of Life. Rest your head in my house Lord.”

She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Joe, at Rhea Memory Gardens following the graveside service at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb 11, at the Rhea Memorial Garden Pavilion. All are invited to attend and pay their respects.

Please share your memories and photos of Joy on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN.