Joyce Sewell Long
By: Terry McDaniel
Updated: July 30, 2012
Joyce Sewell Long, a resident of the Christian Hill Community of Dale County, between Midland City and Echo, died early Sunday morning, July 29, 2012, in a Dothan hospital. She was 87.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church, near Echo, with Dr. Carl Warden, Reverend Joe Murkerson and Reverend Jeff Lunsford officiating. Graveside services will follow in the Christian Hill Cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of funeral arrangements. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at the mortuary in Headland.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Jo Ann Ammons, 508 County Road 46, Midland City, AL. 36350.
Mrs. Long was born and reared in Dale County, near Echo, daughter of the late Lewis Franklin Sewell and Callie Matilda Stevens Sewell. She lived in Christian Hill Community all her adult lifetime. Mrs. Long was a member of the New Hope Free Will Baptist Church and loved the church tremendously and also enjoyed participating in the Multi-Community Seniors of Midland City.
Mrs. Long was a farm wife, housekeeper, and a caring and loving mother to six children. She was a wonderful cook, gardener and vegetable canner. Her pantry still contains jars of past and recent labors of love. She enjoyed fishing at the old pond, catching catfish and bream when no one else could.Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her husband of forty-four years, Cecil Neil Long, a grandson, Michael Brandon Long and two brothers, Rudolph Sewell and Alfred Boyce Sewell.
Surviving relatives include three daughters, Betty Jo Long, Christian Hill Community; Loretta Long, Dothan; and Melissa Lunsford and husband, Jeff, Christian Hill Community; three sons, Dan Long, Christian Hill Community; Cecil Long and wife, Evelyn, Dothan; and Victor Long and wife, Cindy, Christian Hill Community; eight grandchildren, Joseph, Benjamin, Callie and John Lunsford, Brandy, Sam and Caila Long and Chad Welch; special sisters-in-law, Alice Sewell, Martha Long, Verlie Long, Betty Jean Long and Mary Louise Long; several nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the sons and grandsons.
