Minnie Joyce Dillard Shehan, age 84, of Greensboro, N.C. passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Grand Villas Assisted Living at Winston.

A visitation will be held from 11:00am - 12:00pm Monday March 30, 2026, at George Brothers Funeral Service followed by a private burial.

She was born April 22, 1941, in Wilkes County to James Harrison Dillard and Mattie Reynolds Dillard.

Joyce was a 1959 graduate of North Wilkes High School, where she was a standout player for the Lady Vikings basketball team and was voted "Most Athletic." Once graduating from high school, she moved to Greensboro and was employed by Bell South Telecommunications as a switchboard operator for 33 years. She always dreamed of becoming an operator and loved the only job she ever held.

After her retirement in March 1992, Joyce enjoyed spending time at her second home in Garden City, S.C., and making special memories with her grandchildren. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Lankford, Florida Street and West Asheboro Baptist churches when she was able. She was blessed to travel to Israel and was rebaptized in the Jordan River. Joyce spent the last thirty years of her life helping others. She regularly visited rest homes, but her calling was lending a helping hand to those in the homeless community.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son Jackie and daughter Karen, by two sisters, Ethel Branham and Carrie Bell Hincher and by seven brothers, Claude Dillard, Grover Dillard, Hershel Dillard. Herman Dillard, Albert Dillard, Robert Dillard, and Lonnie Dillard.

She is survived by daughter Mary Jane Baldwin (Al) of Conway, S.C; son, Jeff Nance (Dana) of Asheboro; six grandchildren, Sully Baldwin, Jayson Makar, Eli Nance (Bailey), Daniel Nance, Sean Nance of Asheboro and Austin Nance of Asheboro; one great-grandchild, Theodore; one sister Nannie Dillard of Wilkesboro; and one brother Don Dillard of Wilkesboro.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the love and care given by her caregiver Terry Clarida.