Joyce Epps

Evangelist Joyce Carese (Brown) Epps was born on October 24, 1952 in Elkhorn, West Virginia, to the late Lillian and Leroy Brown, Sr. of Beckley, West Virginia.

Joyce was the fifth child of eight children: Leroy, Gilbert, Margaret, Gloria Jean, Arwanna, Ardella, and Mary Kathleen “Kathy”. 

It was always apparent that Joyce was truly a gift from God, who loved to share her joy (hence her name) for life, with her contagious smile and her profound love for Jesus. 

It has always been known that Joyce was the evangelist of the family. After attending a life changing service, she brought back the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the blessing of the infilling of the Holy Ghost. She blazed a trail and her family was inspired to follow Jesus. During her early years in ministry, she served as secretary at Midway Shiloh Temple in Keystone, West Virginia under the leadership of the late Bishop B.T. Jones.  She also served as secretary for the late Bishop Clarence E. Moore in Bluefield, West Virginia. After moving to New Jersey, she became a member of Faith Temple/New Hope Church in East Orange, New Jersey under the leadership of the Late Bishop Milton Hobbs. While there she served as a member of the choir and avidly helped with Sunday school. She recently was a member of Abundant Life Family Worship Church under the leadership of Bishop George Searight and Pastor Mary Searight in New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

Joyce graduated from Bluefield High School (the Beavers) in 1970. Shortly after graduating, she sought to expand her horizons and decided to move to New Jersey at the age of 18. She soon found employment at Prudential Insurance Company of America as an administrative assistant and excelled at it for over 20 years.  

God blessed Joyce to find her soulmate and partner for life, William “Bill” Epps and they were married in East Orange, New Jersey.  Their union produced two handsome and dedicated sons, Jarrett and Jeremy.

Joyce loved being a mother and grandmother. She immensely enjoyed spending time with her two grandchildren, Faith and Judah.  She loved to talk about them to anyone who would listen.

Later in life, Joyce felt led by the Lord to open Temple of Praise Ministries to evangelize and reach all who would attend. This gave her great pleasure and was truly a blessing to her in that season of her life.

On December 5, 2021, her friend and Savior, Jesus Christ called her home to Him. She is preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Epps, her brother Leroy Brown Jr., and her sister Margaret Brown.  Their family legacy is being continued by her two children Jarrett (Jessica) Epps, Jeremy (Kyara) Epps, and grandchildren Faith and Judah. Her surviving siblings are her brother Gilbert (Rosa) Brown of Detroit, Michigan, her sisters Gloria Jean (Darious) Oliver of Burlington, North Carolina, Arwanna Davis of Detroit, Michigan, Ardella Brown of Beckley, West Virginia, and Mary (Richard) Cook of Beckley, West Virginia. 

She will be greatly missed, but always remembered by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and church family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Epps, please visit our floral store.