Joy Cooksey passed away March 16 at home ending a 17 year battle with breast cancer. The precious name, so reflective of her spirit, was given by her parents Howard and Clarice Bayliss at birth in Hurricane, West Virginia. Her twin sister, Jill Whitworth, of Gulfport, Florida was older by 4 minutes. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia in 1967 she to St. Petersburg, Fl, where she met her husband and lifelong partner, Jimmy.in 1969 and gave birth to their son, Howard, in 1971.

Joy moved to Palm Coast in 1977 and continued her banking career as a branch manager for Coast Federal and mortgage loan officer for SunTrust while earning her AA Degree at Daytona State College. Joy was active in civic and community affairs which included the United Way Board of Directors, Palm Coast Rotary Club and the Palm Coast Little Theater. She appeared in the last play, The Odd Couple, held in the historic Ormond Hotel before it was demolished. She was also an accomplished landscape artist.

Moving to Ormond Beach in 1985 she helped establish Cooksey and Associates, Real Estate Appraisers with her husband and son as a residential appraiser. After retiring in 2007, her grandchildren, Dylan, Paige and Ryan became her top priority. They remained so until her last breath.

In addition to her husband, son, grandchildren and sister she is survived by her mother, Clarice Bayliss brother Jim Bayliss, nephews John and Shawn Bayliss of West Virginia, brother John Bayliss, Ormond Beach, and nieces Stacey Whitworth, St. Petersburg and Stephanie Burkhart, Indianapolis.

Her nephew, the Rev. Roy Allison, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Tampa will preside at her Celebration of LIfe at Lohman's Ormond Beach at 12 PM on Monday, March 21. A Visitation will be from 10:00 AM til the Service begins. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or United for Care.