A Life Story
With hearts full of gratitude for a beautiful soul and sorrow for our loss, we announce the passing of a beloved Mother, Grandmother, wife and friend. Joyce Ryan Gunter joined her eternal choir with our Lord, Savior and the angels on June 13, 2026. Joyce was born in Savannah, Georgia on April 5, 1938. Raised in Savannah by beloved parents James Madison Ryan and Violet May Ryan, she enjoyed a life living downtown in beautiful Savannah. Joyce attended Savannah High School with her dearest friends which included beach trips to Tybee on many weekends. Joyce met her high school sweetheart, a Benedictine Military School boy by the name of Bobby Gunter, who was handsome and happened to be a fantastic dancer. The pair had a fantastic adventures together along with best friends Willene and Owen Strickland! Joyce and Bobby were married for over fifty wonderful years and had one daughter, Gabrielle Elisabeth Gunter. Joyce’s life was bright and full of music from the time she was a girl. A very talented soprano singer, she sang on the radio, in choirs and was nominated May Queen. She later attended Stetson University and graduated with a Voice Major from Stetson School of Music. Joyce later obtained a master’s degree from Georgia State. Joyce was blessed to be chosen as a singer every summer through college at the famous Farmhouse Restaurant in Boone, NC., which she loved! Joyce worked as a music teacher up until the birth of her daughter. Gabrielle was born on March 25, 1969. Joyce was the most amazing stay at home mother! She began a Christmas Tea tradition with all of the mothers and daughters that will never be forgotten! Joyce went back to teaching music at Vanderlyn Elementary in Dunwoody. She became one of the best music teachers the state of Georgia ever had! Her special friends there were truly our family. She started two childrens’s choirs, a mixed choir and a boy choir. Establishments all over Atlanta would book her choirs including Phipps Plaza, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, etc .. My precious Savannah southern Mother was loved by everyone that met her. Her gifts of grace, kindness, entertaining and southern hospitality were loved by all. I am BEYOND blessed that God blessed me with my mother. I will Miss the way she called me, “dahlin” for the rest of my life. Joyce is joining her loving and devoted husband, Bobby Gunter, along with Stratton, her grandson, parents and dear friends we have lost. Her beautiful voice is singing Hallelujah with the angels. This is the most perfect choir for my mother. A private family service will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please send prayers for those of us missing her so much.