Joyce Land Panter

A memorial service will be held for Joyce Land Panter on Sunday August 1st at 3pm in the chapel at Henry-Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge. Visitation with family will begin at 2pm.
Joyce passed away at the age of 93 on July 5, 2020 in Chattanooga of natural causes. A native of Blue Ridge, she was born December 17, 1926 to the late Rev. Dewey Land and Mamie Chastain Land. She was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, and grandmother to her 4 children, 5 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
Joyce graduated with honors from high School during WWII and was offered a college scholarship, choosing instead (as so many of her era did) to help provide for her family. A dedicated Christian, Joyce had a beautiful voice and sang throughout her life to share God’s love, often singing at funerals for friends and community members. She sang by shape notes, a skill she learned as a child and passed on to her children.
Joyce worked for the Department of Family and Children Services and retired in 1998. She loved traveling and she and her husband of 50 years, Kenneth, visited the lower 48 states, Alaska, and Canada. She loved reading, had two green thumbs (grew lovely flowers), had a great sense of humor, and loved discussing current events. She was renowned for her banana pudding, fried okra, 7 minute frosting and strawberry cobbler! She lived her life with joy and shared that joy with others, “brightening” her corner of the world. Her wisdom, support, love and guidance were ever present for the asking. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:28
She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Panter, sister Valerie Land Panter Butler, and brother Troy Land.
Survivors include 2 sons, Rodney Panter and Barry (Becky) Panter; daughters Marilyn Underwood and Linda (Jim) Hughes; grandchildren Tracy Jenkins, Tina Brooks, Candace Price, Jeremiah Underwood, and Kathryn Hughes Neal; great-grandchildren Erin and Delana Schmidt, Brady and Sarah Beth Brooks, Ashlyn and Braden Jenkins; sisters-in-law Wanda and Irene Panter, brothers-in-law Dale and LaVelle Panter; nieces and nephews, and friends.
Her memorial service, delayed until August 1st out of respect for covid-19 precautions, will include shape note singing in celebration of a wonderful Christian life, well lived, and in honor of her commitment to keeping the art of shape note singing alive for future generations.
Officiant: Rev. Billy Ray Queen Pianist: Nancy Collis Watkins
Honorary pallbearers are sons Barry and Rodney Panter, grandson Jeremiah Underwood, son-in-law James Hughes, grandsons-in-law, nephews, dear friends, and colleagues. A special thankyou to Stewart Cox, Jr and wife Lillie for their faithful friendship and example of Christian caring.

Arrangements entrusted to the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com