MJ Memorial for Joyce Wardrick

This fundraiser is to offset funeral expenses; any additional funds collected will go to her favorite charity, His Hand Support Ministry.

Joyce Evangeline (Sutton Wardrick) Saunders, age 84, born August 9, 1938, went home to be with her Lord on August 27, 2022, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. The eldest of the “Sutton sisters”; Betty, Matilda, Alice and Gina, along with their brother John and parents Alfonso & Alice, all of whom preceded her homegoing. Born in Washington, DC and having resided in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Surviving Joyce is her loving husband, Irving Saunders; the two married in 2008 at Montgomery Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD. Her children Taylor, Joyce, Jon, Kenneth, James, Marion and David, along with the beloved children of her sisters and the many grandchildren & great-grandchildren who knew her as MJ.

Joyce was part of what's called "The Silent Generation", but just like in every other possible way, she broke that mold too.

When the hospital told the family that she had but a few hours to live and was brain dead with no hope, she made it another day. Squeezed hands and was comforted with her husband by her side.

Today she's gone from this world and on to the next. Unashamedly a woman of faith, every day sure of what she hoped for and certain of what cannot be seen (Hebrews 11:1).

A beloved mother, better known as “MJ” (Momma Joyce to her grandkids) taken away to a place where God has prepared a place for her, a mansion just over the hilltop. If you knew Joyce, you knew how much she loved Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Joyce was a force of nature, driving up and down the east coast constantly, always in a car somewhere. Restaurant wait staff were in for an adventure; she'd have it her way. She spanned history and life in so many ways: picked cotton but was constantly online playing Farmville and keeping up with her family and friends via Facebook. Watched Tiger Woods every Sunday but made it to church. She lived life to its fullest as a wife, mother, businesswoman, single parent, theater producer, home education advocate, sister, daughter, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, sheriff deputy, physicians assistant, teacher, stage mom, Amway saleswoman, and so much more... a life to celebrate, remember, smile about, cry about.

Psalm 127 3:5

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court”