Obituaries

Joy Bond Ramsay

Photo of Joy Bond Ramsay
Joy Bond Ramsay, 97, of Pine Bluff, passed away Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at home. She was born to Dr. Joseph Edward Bond and Jimmie Waller Bond on February 3, 1921 in Warren, Arkansas. n 1940, she was crowned Miss Pink Tomato of Bradley County. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She majored in Economics and Marketing and graduated from the University of Arkansas College of Business Administration with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and Gideon. She met her future husband, Louis L. Ramsay, at the University and they were married on October 3,1945 and moved to Pine Bluff in 1947 when her husband became a part of the Coleman and Gantt Law Firm. Joy was very active in the Pine Bluff community, with her church and raising her family. She spent the greatest portion of her life supporting Louis' career and professional activities. Joy has always been a very active leader and member of her church. She was on the Administrative Board of First United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff and Chair of the United Methodist Women. She served as a study leader for the Women's Society of Christian Service (now called the United Methodist Women) for more than 50 years and a Sunday school teacher. She served as the Alter Guild Chairman for more than five (5) years. She was also on the Board that established the Contact Ministry – a telephone ministry to help people in times of trouble. She and her husband, Louis, were deeply involved in the Prison Ministry at the Department of Community Punishment (DC&P) in the Southeast Arkansas District. Supporting healthcare was an important area in Joy's life, as well. She volunteered as a Grey Lady for Pine Bluff's Jefferson Regional Medical Center for many years. She was a breast cancer survivor and contributed financially to the fight against breast cancer. The Oncology wing at Jefferson Regional Medical Center is named in her honor. Joy was an active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Pine Bluff (now the Junior League). In 2002, she was awarded the Ella Hunn Payne Award, by the Junior League of Pine Bluff for her community service. She was President of the Fine Arts Council at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, a founding member of Youth Home – a facility for troubled teens, and a Board Member of the Florence Crittenden Home in Little Rock. She was a life-long member of the Junior Sesame and Mathontes study clubs. Joy along with her husband, Louis, were charter members of the Chancellor's Society at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and the main classroom in the Walton College of Business is named the Louis L. and Joy Ramsay Auditorium She is an excellent cook and her hands were never idle. She could knit, sew and do needlework and petit point pillows. In the 1970's she helped with the work done on the needlepoint chair cushions for the dining room chairs that are still a part of the Governor's Mansion. She worked on the needlepoint kneelers that are a part of the communion rail at her church, First United Methodist. Joy is survived by her daughter, Joy Blankenship (Ron); her son, Richard L. Ramsay (Clair); her grandchildren, Drew Blankenship (Ginny), Ben Blankenship (Betsy), Kate Blankenship Barlow (Eric), Jimbo Ramsay (Carla), Liz Ramsay Dalton (Dan), Alex Graham and Clancy Graham Rodgers (Joe). Additionally, she is survived by four great-grandchildren, Samuel Hudson Blankenship, Ann Ramsay Blankenship, William Barrett Blankenship and Joy Renea Ramsay. A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Mike Morey officiating by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church. Interment will be private. The family would like to thank Mrs. Ramsay's caregivers, especially Brenda Gaddy, Andria Eason and Tracey French, who have become like part of the family for their loving and compassionate care over the last two years. The family requests that memorials take the form of contributions to First United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff, P.O. Box 8003, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71611; or the Louis Ramsay Memorial Fund, University House, 1002 West Maple Street, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published May 3, 2018

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