Eleanor Joy Gillon Stroud was the daughter of Sam and Montye Gillon of Grenada County, MS. Her siblings were Sam, Ray, Earl, Tom, and Bobby Gillon, as well as a foster brother, Julius O'Neal.
She attended Gore  Springs School and then went to Delta State College.
On July 1, 1949, Joy married Robert (Bob) Stroud and they were married for 55 years.
An accomplished artist, Joy took many art courses and mastered charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, and oil. She used her talents to the glory of God in church and community work. She commissioned many paintings, focusing on the farm and family life of Grenada County homesteads. Some of her favorite times were spent teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren the principles of design and the joys of art. Joy and her family were Charter members of Gore Springs Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, Bible School, WMU, and  the GA's. She faithfully attended Gore Springs as long as health allowed and then attended First United Methodist Church and All Saints Episcopal Church with her daughters.
Civic involvement was important to Joy.  She became an involved member of the Gore Springs Community Club, where she served as an officer and committee member for many events benefitting the club, the Gore Springs School, and the Gore Springs Fire Department.
Joy was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She had a penchant for learning and attended many workshops and conferences, where she honed her leadership skills and learned many ways to nurture her happy, healthy home. She was a County, District, and State member and officer of MSU-ES Homemakers Council; an Extension Master Clothing Volunteer and a Master Crochet Volunteer, where she committed to teaching sewing and crocheting classes.  Joy was a faithful Grenada County 4-H Volunteer, leading workshops in sewing, painting, quilting and chaperoning summer camps.  She attended local, district, state and regional volunteer conferences.
Joy is survived by her children: Bobby Stroud (Jackie) of Olive Branch, Sandra Howell (Steve), Gloria Hardin, and Marianne Clark (Steve), all of Grenada, her grandchildren: Heather Mausz (Greg), Melissa Joy Giarrosso (Steven), Matt Howell (Sabrina), Nathan Howell (Jennifer), Rob Hardin (Jena), Brad Clark (Beth), Carie-Katherine Housel (Matt) and 15 great-grandchildren including Madison Stroud, Sophie and Beckett Mausz, Oliver and Millie Giarrosso, Macy and Rebecca Howell, Cooper Howell, Hayden and Allee Jones, Raegan Hardin, Cohen and Izzy Clark, and Eli and Sam Housel.
Survivors also include her brother, Tom Gillon, sisters-in-law Shirley Gillon, Frances Hill, Charlsey Goolsby, and brother-in-law Sonny Goolsby, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, along with special caregivers at Yalobusha County Nursing Home (Spears Wing), who provided companionship and incredible care for the past years and were loved as family.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob, her granddaughter Karen Hardin, her brothers Sam, Ray, Earl and Bobby Gillon, and her foster brother Julius O'Neal.
The service celebrating her life and home going will be a private, family graveside service on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at the Gore Springs Cemetary, and will be officiated by great nephew Josh Tate of New Albany.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church TV Ministry or to the Gore Springs Baptist Church Prayer Garden.