Joyce Pope Haizlip of Florence and Winnsboro, SC passed away on May 24, 2021. Joyce was born September 19, 1930 in Winnsboro. She was the daughter of the late Gary Franklin Bass, Sr. and Mary Madora Fields Bass. She graduated from Mt. Zion Institute in Winnsboro and attended Winthrop College.
She married John Carroll Pope in 1951. While John established Pope Oil Company with his brother, she worked at Fairfield Memorial Hospital for several years and served as a substitute teacher with the public schools and Richard Winn Academy in Fairfield County until she retired.
Even though Joyce grew up attending Stephen Greene Baptist Church, she followed John and joined Sion Presbyterian Church where she became a devoted lifelong member. She participated in the choir, Women’s Circles, and all hospitality functions of the church. She never let a season pass without the appropriate wreaths and decorations in place to adorn the sanctuary and facilities. A long list of brides from all denominations in Winnsboro relied on Ms. Joyce to direct their weddings, a job she loved and cherished.
Joyce was a member, officer and patron of many organizations, including the American Legion Auxiliary, Winnsboro Women’s Club, the Music Club, March of Dimes, Girl Scouts, the Lions Club and the Winnsboro Cotillion. Serving as a poll manager for several decades allowed her to develop many special relationships with people throughout the community. Every Christmas, she particularly enjoyed performing Handel’s Messiah with other vocalist from the community.
She was a gracious hostess and loved entertaining her family and friends, especially with a special meal on New Year’s Day. Her generous spirit welcomed anyone who was alone and needed a place or a friend. She never met a stranger.
Joyce was preceded in death by her beloved husbands John Carroll Pope, the father of her three daughters, and John Wesley Haizlip; her brother Gary Franklin Bass, Jr. and her grandson Ryan Carroll Bell. Surviving are her brother, Gene Wesley Bass; daughters, Eugenia (Genia) Pope Tyson (Duncan), Constance (Connie) Pope Wilkes, (Tommy), Joyce Carroll (Sam) Pope Currie (Jack); 11 grandchildren, 16 great – grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and countless “young” people in Winnsboro whom she considered her own.
A special thank you goes to the staffs of the Heritage Home of Florence where Joyce has made her home for the last two years and the Presbyterian Community of Florence the eight years prior to that.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 6-8 p.m. at Pope Funeral Home, 521 S. Congress Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180. Services will be held at Lebanon Presbyterian Church, 8002 Newberry Rd., Winnsboro, SC, Wednesday, May 26, 2021 followed by interment in the church’s cemetery. The family will greet friends in the Fellowship Hall following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that a memorial be considered to Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, 8002 Newberry Rd., Winnsboro, SC 29180 or Sion Presbyterian Church, 116 W. Washington Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180.
Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Haizlip family.
