The funeral services for the late Mrs. Annie Joyce Gaines, who departed this life on Monday, June 9, 2025, will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m from the Jones Chapel AME Church in Sylvester, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Shepard Memorial Garden Cemetery in Sylvester, Georgia. Services may be viewed Facebook Live from the Shipp's Funeral Home Facebook page or by clicking the Video Stream link on this site's Home Page.

Pastor Annie Joyce Gaines was born on September 6, 1953, in Calhoun County, Georgia to the late Mr. Samuel Lee Newton and the late Ms. Ollie Ree Daniels.

Joyce dedicated her life to Christ at a young age after getting burned by fire, when she and her sister were “playing with God” around the fireplace, as she always noted when sharing her testimony. She grew up in Albany, Georgia and attended Dougherty and Worth County schools. She met and married the love of her life Worth County Commissioner and Pastor Joe Louis Gaines and this union raised a beautiful family.

Joyce joined Mt Olive #1 Baptist Church in Gordy, Georgia under the leadership of the late Reverend Eddie Hamilton. During her Christian walk, she served faithfully at Hope of Glory Ministries and Lion of Judah Ministries in Albany, GA. Later in life she and her husband founded Abundant Life Ministries, International in 2006, where she served as Co-Pastor until her transition. Joyce retired from Cato Fashions after 35 years as the first Black District Training Store Manager.

On June 9, 2025, Joyce departed this life at her home with her husband.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, LaToya Vernessa Gaines; her sisters Eloise Allen, Gladys Bobb, both of Albany, GA, and Inell Sullivan of North Carolina.

Joyce leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 54 years, Joe Gaines; her children, Angelic Gaines of Ashburn, VA, Latonya Gaines of Albany, GA and Anthony Gaines of Atlanta, GA; her eleven grandchildren: Rico Jr., Glenn, Justin, Teriney (Dontavis), Arie, Jamiya, Isheunna, Ashlyn, Zion, Zane, Landon and a great-niece, Jermive; a host of great grandchildren; her sisters, Bertha (Richard, Sr.) Green, Annie (Charlie) Carter, both of Albany, GA, Glennis Martin of Evans, GA and Michelle Smith of Rome, GA; her brothers, Robert Hall, Eddie Hall, both of Sylvester, GA and Jerome King of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and sorrowing friends.

Joyce was a generous human being who showed her love through cooking and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was known to pray for anyone she met that needed help and healing. She loved the Lord and people, even while sick she was witnessing to anyone she met. Her heart’s prayer was to see her family and friends saved and come into the knowledge of the true and living God.

Joyce is gone but will forever be in our hearts and memories