Peggy Joyce Craig McCoy Aust

Funeral services for Peggy Joyce Craig McCoy Aust (Aunt Joyce) will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025, beginning at 2:00 pm at The Church of DeKalb with Bro. Mike Sims and Bro. James Ruffin officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery in DeKalb.

Mrs. Joyce Craig McCoy Aust was born to James and Venie (Little) Craig on February 24,1934, in DeKalb, MS, where she lived and loved for 91 years. Joyce passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Joyce joined the 1st United Methodist Church of DeKalb at an early age and continued to be a faithful member. She also enjoyed attending Pleasant Ridge Church as well as Cross Mountain and DeKalb Baptist Church.

Joyce graduated from DeKalb High School in 1952, East Mississippi Junior College in 1954, and the University of Southern Mississippi in 1956. She began her teaching career in Noxubee County in 1956 and retired from the Kemper County School System in 1997, with over 42 1/2 years of service in the educational field. She played a vital role in building Kemper Academy where she also taught for several years. Her passion was teaching others, whether it be Kemper County History, cooking, etiquette class, gardening/flowering, or just giving back to the community. Joyce was an avid reader; she loved every child that she ever taught and considered each of them her very own. Known by so many as “ Aunt Joyce”, she never hesitated to share her wealth of knowledge.

She was a member of the Retired Educators of Kemper County and the Kemper County Historical Society. On most any day, you could find Aunt Joyce riding the back roads of Kemper County, visiting with family and friends, and often delivering sweets and groceries to them.

Survivors include her brother, Jimmy Craig; sister, June Craig Aust (Bubba); stepsons, Jerry Aust & Ken Aust; six nieces, Terri Calvert Goss (Bobby), Betty Lynn Aust Haggard (Daniel), Jeri Craig Cawthorn (Tony), Louann Aust Wilson (Buck), Katherine Craig, and Callie Craig; one nephew, Lee Aust; five great nieces; eight great nephews; six great-great nieces; and three great-great nephews as well as a host of extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Billy McCoy and Hill Aust; parents, James and Venie Craig; sister, Jeane Craig Wash; and two nephews, Jim Aust and Jay Craig.

Serving as pallbearers for her service will be her great nephews: Hunter Hall, Chase Cawthorn, Jason Craig, Cash Wilson, Kix Wilson, Tristan Haggard, and Anthony Key.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joyce’s honor to The Church of DeKalb.

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to Quality Hospice and her very special sitters, Hope Stephens, Ludean Gully, Lisa Hicks, and Nita Cook.

Visitation will be held from Sunday, March 30th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at The Church of DeKalb.

The staff of Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes-DeKalb is grateful for the opportunity to honor Joyce’s life and memory and to serve her loving family during this time.