Joyce Ann (Gaston) Kerns

Joyce Ann (Gaston) Kerns, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt passed away peacefully at Hospice Home at High Point on July 14, 2025 at the age of 77. She was preceded in death by her mother Pauline Greene; father Virgil Gaston; husband of 27 years Gene Kerns; and son Michael Blake Kerns.!

Joyce was born on September 7, 1947 in Pulaski, Virginia, and grew up with her best friend Sharon Cecil Kerns. She was swept off her feet by the love of her life, Gene  Kerns and would often recall how Gene would hitchhike to her small mountain town to see her. Joyce and Gene married on November 8, 1964, and embarked on a globe- trotting journey throughout his storied Army career, living in: Bitburg Air Force Base, Germany; Zukeran Base, Okinawa, Japan; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Gordon, Georgia, and Clark Summit, Pennsylvania before finally settling in Washington, NC in 1985. Together they took immense pride in their three children; Mike, Yvette, and Brian.! Joyce was an artist, and loved painting beautiful Christmas ornaments and holiday decorations. She was an amazing cook, an excellent conversationalist, and could make a delicious grasshopper. An avid football fan, she loved the Kansas City Chiefs, and she had a big heart for animals, especially for her dog, “Luna.” ! Following Gene’s passing in 1991, Joyce moved to Raleigh to live near her sister, Linda Johnson. Joyce forged many friendships in Raleigh while owning and operating First Class Limousine Service.! She will be deeply missed by her family, including: daughter Yvette Kerns of Waxhaw, NC; son Brian Kerns (MaryBeth) of Kernersville, NC; daughter-in-law Katrina Kerns of Vanceboro, NC; sister Linda Johnson (Mike) of Raleigh, NC; 11 grandchildren: Meredith, Holden, Darcy, Caroline, Catherine, Martha Claire, David Gene, Jackson, Jamison, Sydney, and Samantha; 5 great-grandchildren: Kylie, Aubrey, Eleanor, Andrew, and Henry; niece Hailey, nephews Ryan and Russell, and many extended family members and friends.! Per her wishes, there will be no memorial service; instead, Joyce asked that you honor her memory and life by embracing joy, spreading love, and living fully! She will be interred in Pinewood Memorial Park in Greenville, NC at a future date. ! The family would like to express deep appreciation for the incredible team of physicians, nurses, and staff at Duke Raleigh’s 5th floor oncology team; as well as abiding gratitude for the compassionate and caring professionals at Hospice Home at High Point. !

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making an impact with a memorial donation to Hospice of the Piedmont: https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/donate/donations- you-can-help/.!

The Kerns family is being served by Regional Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services.

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