Joyce Lavone Arrendale (nee Chester) passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, at the age of 84.  Joyce was born and raised in Dawsonville, GA, to the late Joe and Florence Chester, growing up near the base of Amicalola Falls.  She was the youngest of four, two brothers and a sister. During high school, Joyce was a star basketball player for the Dawson County High Lady Tigers in the late 1950's and was on several teams that made it to the state playoffs.  Joyce married her lifelong soulmate, Cecil, in 1960, and they eventually settled in Dahlonega, GA, where they raised their family.  She worked diligently at Blackburn Elementary School in the front office from which she would retire at 72 years old. Joyce was an active member and Treasurer of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Dahlonega, GA, and served faithfully for many years in the Eastern Star Blue Mountain Lodge #333 in Dahlonega, GA.

Joyce will be remembered by all for her incredible cooking, devotion to family, storytelling, and, of course, her easy and contagious laugh.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband Cecil, her brother Joseph (Junior) Chester, her son Tony (Jill), daughter Marla (Joe) McGorrey, granddaughter Marlia (Christopher) Floyd, Grandsons Kevin (Abbey) and Matt (Amy) McGorrey, and great granddaughter Stella Floyd.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, with Rev. Christian Van officiating. Interment will follow in the cemetery of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home.

To share a memory or condolences with the family, visit Joyce Arrendale's online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Cure Alzheimer's fund at www.curealz.org.

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 U.S. 19 Business, Dahlonega, GA 30533