Blevins, Joyce Linkous
Joyce Ann Blevins, 82, passed away on November 9, 2026, leaving behind a family who loved her and memories of a woman whose strong spirit and fierce loyalty were unmistakably her own.
Born in Blacksburg, Virginia, to George and Sadie Linkous, Joyce spent most of her life in the New River Valley. She lived for a few years in Ohio in the early 1960s, along with several of her siblings, but remained a proud Virginian at heart. Her father worked in the coal mines of Virginia and West Virginia, and Joyce carried the values of a hardworking family throughout her life.
Joyce knew that life could be difficult. She worked hard, faced painful challenges, and endured the tragic loss of her son, Wayne, in an automobile accident. That heartbreak remained part of her story. Through life’s struggles, she wanted something better for her children and emphasized honesty, hard work, and following through on commitments.
Stubborn, outspoken, and never afraid to share her opinion, Joyce could be a force to reckon with. Yet anyone who threatened one of her children or siblings quickly learned how fiercely she stood up for family. Sunday dinners were an important family tradition during her children’s younger years, bringing everyone together and remaining especially meaningful after the loss of Wayne. She also enjoyed holidays and reunions with her brothers and sisters, where good stories and laughter were never in short supply. A woman of faith, she believed in God and enjoyed gospel music.
Joyce shared 30 years of marriage with her husband, Vinnie Blevins. They enjoyed traveling together and their special “Joyce days,” Vinnie’s affectionate name for their weekly dates. She also loved talking with her children and grandchildren and hearing about their lives and experiences.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Vinnie Blevins; her daughter Sharon Hall and husband Robbie; her son Rodney Browning and wife Stacy; her daughter Karen Perdue and husband David; her stepdaughter Beth Tickle and husband Davey; and her stepson Vincent Blevins and wife Carrie. She is also survived by her grandchildren Brittany, Kellen, Corey, Lyndsey, Benjamin, Caleb, and Brooklyn; her great-grandchildren Lyla, Amelia, Blake, Elizabeth, and Fox; her sisters Linda Fain and Lois Jarrells; and her brother Tim Linkous and his wife Karen.
She was preceded in death by her son, Wayne Browning; her parents, George and Sadie Linkous; her sisters Jearldine (Jeri) Carter and Betty Ward; and her brothers David (Dan) Linkous and Arnold (Butch) Linkous.
Joyce will be remembered for her determination, her love of a good story, and the fierce devotion she showed to her family. Her legacy lives on in the people she loved and the values she hoped to pass along.
We would like to thank Caris Hospice and their dedicated employees, Chloe, Laura, Jesse and Lacy. And thanks to the staff of Commonwealth Senior Living, for caring for our mother, these last few months of her life.
Visitation and Funeral services will be conducted Friday, November 13, 2026, at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr. S.W. Blacksburg, VA 24060. The family will receive friends starting at 2:00 PM, Rev. Robyn Angle and Rev. Will Fillingham will officiate the service at 3PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Agape Center NRV, PO Box 1281, Christiansburg, VA 24073.
