OBITUARY

Joy Elizabeth Ashe Chick, 64, passed away from cancer on August 5, 2025, surrounded by her immediate family in Athens, Georgia. Joy was born on April 7, 1961, and is the youngest daughter of Eugene Emory Ashe and Betty Malcom Ashe of Monroe, Georgia.

Growing up, Joy resided at 429 Springdale Road in the Pollack subdivision and attended the First Baptist Church. She attended the Monroe public school system and graduated from Monroe Area Comprehensive High School in 1979 as a member of the Spirit of America Club, Co-ed Y Club, Interact Club, Anchor Club, and the Debutantes of Monroe. She was the co-chair of her high school class 10-year reunion.

Joy graduated from Georgia College in Milledgeville in 1983. She majored in marketing and minored in fashion marketing at Georgia College and worked her way through school at Harold’s Bridal Shop, where she learned to alter and make wedding gowns. After graduating from college, Joy spent over 30 years in banking, sales, and insurance at Decatur Federal Bank, Wachovia Bank, Mainstreet Bank, Minerva Beauty Supply, and State Farm under agent Patti Souther.

Joy was a talented and accomplished seamstress, co-writer and contributor of numerous cookbooks, a talented guitarist, and an amazing singer. She loved the beach, and she loved to cook and spend time in the kitchen with her family. Her pride and joy were her two boys: Matthew Bruce Chick and Michael Eugene Chick. In October 2024, Joy gained a daughter when Matthew married Dr Annelise Norman of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Joy took great pride in Matthew graduating from the University of Georgia, then Georgia State Law School with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, and passing the Georgia Bar Exam. Her youngest son, Michael, is a senior undergraduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in architecture.

Joy was smart with a quick sense of humor and dry wit. She was a devoted and dedicated spouse, supporting her husband’s military career of nearly 33 years in the United States Army and the Georgia Army National Guard. Joy’s dedication and sacrifices allowed Colonel (Ret.) Bruce Chick to coach and mentor thousands of family members through numerous mobilizations, deployments, and combat tours. Following Colonel Chick’s retirement from the Army, Joy continued supporting his efforts for the following 11 years at Social Circle High School and the U.S. Army JROTC program, furthering the educations and opportunities of hundreds of student-athletes.

Joy was beautiful inside and out. She spent her life cultivating and nurturing her family, always putting them before herself. Joy is survived by her husband Bruce Chick, her oldest son Matthew Chick, daughter-in-law Annelise Chick, her youngest son Michael Chick, her older sister Judy A. Blackwell and her husband Bob Blackwell.

The visitation for Joy will be held at Meadows Funeral Home on August 7, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM and 5:00 to 7:00 PM. A chapel service and funeral will follow on August 8, 2025, at 1:00 PM, and she will be laid to rest at Harmony Baptist Church in Good Hope, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to The American Cancer Society in Honor of Joy A. Chick.

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” Proverbs 19:14