Joy Pelham Moore

Joy Pelham Moore of Dyersburg died Tuesday April 4, 2023 at her home. She was 89 years old.

She was born in Athens, Tennessee and graduated from McMinn Central High School and the University of Tennessee. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority at U.T. and reportedly knitted the first sweater worn by the first "Smokey" mascot hound dog.

Joy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Peter Pelham who died in a private plane crash in 1976, and by her son Jim and her daughter Wendy. She was also preceded in death by her grandson Zane and her husband Charles F. Moore, who she married in 1982.

Joy is survived by her son Jeff (Suzanne) Pelham of Hawaii and her daughters Zedna (Robert) White and Gay Pelham of Dyersburg, grandson Justin and his two daughters Launa and Emberlyn, and grandsons Jory White of Memphis, Colston Pelham of Florida, and granddaughter Paige Patterson and great grandson Hunter, of Memphis.

For many years Joy was a homemaker, she was active in the Cotillion Club and the Garden Club, and was a Cub Scout Den leader and later a Girl Scout leader. She loved taking camping trips with her family and flying to football games with her pilot husband.

Joy was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dyersburg, then later belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. After graduating from college, she was a social worker in Athens. Then after Peter's death she became head of the Social Worker Department at Dyersburg Hospital, where she worked for many years until she retired.

After Joy retired, she took a volunteer position running the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, which she worked very passionately at for years.

The family requests memorials be directed to Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society, St. Jude or the Salvation Army.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Funeral services are under the direction of Curry Funeral Home.  We are privileged and honored to serve the Moore family. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.