- Date Of Death: August 3, 2015
- State: New Jersey
Wilma (Joye) McConnell of Burlington, New Jersey, passed away Monday, August 3, 2015, at Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice Center. She was 84. Born in Hemingway, South Carolina, Wilma was the fourth child of the late James and Mary Lou (Newell) Joye. Her older siblings were Joseph Joye, Francis (Joye) Eaddy and Lillian (Joye) Shoffner, all of whom are deceased.
She is survived by her younger brother, James Joye of Columbia, South Carolina. Wilma moved to Burlington after meeting the love of her life, Wilbur McConnell. They were married for over 62 years ago. Wilma is survived by Wilbur and her four children: Jim McConnell of West Babylon, New York; Donna (Mickey) Walsh of Delanco, New Jersey; Mike (Nancy) McConnell of Sandy Springs, Georgia; and Joseph (Jennifer) McConnell of Delran, New Jersey. She is also survived by eight grandchildren (Julie, Adam, Erin, Meredith, Morgan, Michael, Trent and Blake) and three great-grandchildren (Jocelyn, Jaxson, and Oliver).
In many respects, Wilma was a women ahead of her time. She was employed by New Jersey Bell or its corporate affiliates for over 40 years. She also served as an officer of her local union chapter for the Communication Workers of America. While progressing within the Bell Telephone organization, Wilma never lost focus of her children and devoted her life to making sure that they received every opportunity to succeed. This passion, however, did not stop with her children–she was determined to be a significant part of the lives of all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She did not fail. Wilma also never lost sight of her roots and had a deep commitment to her extended family located throughout the Carolinas. After the death of her father in 1972, Wilma and her siblings promised to keep the spirit of their parents alive through holding an annual family reunion in Clayton, North Carolina. After 42 years, the reunion is still going strong.
Until her health became an obstacle during the last several years, Wilma played an integral role in all of these reunions. Wilma was a long time and active member of the Broad Street United Methodist Church in Burlington, New Jersey. She enjoyed her wonderful friends with the Red Hatters in the Burlington area, and was fond of her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
