Joyce Brent Trevathan Sawyer, age 91, of Nashville, Tennessee passed away on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, after a brief illness.
Joyce was born April 8, 1931 in Nashville, Tennessee to the late, Frank Stratton Brent and Ethel Katherine Johnson Brent.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husbands, Norman Edwin Trevathan, Jr. (history professor) and William Sawyer (elementary school principal); her son, Philip Brent Trevathan, brothers, Albert (Al) Cook Brent and James (Jimmy) Brent.
Joyce is survived by her son, Edwin Trevathan (Linda) of Nashville, her former daughter-in-law (Carmel Henson); grandchildren, Scott Trevathan (Libby), Daniel Trevathan, Luke Trevathan (Amy), Patrick Trevathan (Melissa), and Rebecca Trevathan; and great-grandchildren, Ben, Veda, and Jules Trevathan, and multiple other family members.
Joyce was a graduate of Lipscomb High School (1950), Lipscomb University (B.S., 1954), and Peabody College/Vanderbilt University (M.A., Special Education). One of the first public elementary school special education teachers in the southeastern U.S., she taught special needs children at Bethesda Elementary School in Williamson County, funded by federal grants, which she wrote and renewed to maintain her position.
She later taught 2nd grade at Nolensville Elementary School. Joyce briefly worked as a fashion model, and taught children’s Sunday school at several Churches of Christ in Middle Tennessee. Joyce, or “Baba”, was an eternal optimist, a loving but stern disciplinarian, and a constant source of joy and happiness. Joyce was devoted to her family, especially to her sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Judson Baptist Church.
A Gathering of Family and Friends for Joyce will be held Friday, August 12, 2022 from one until two o’clock in the afternoon at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home.
A Celebration of Life Service at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Dignity Hall of Woodlawn-Roesch- Patton Funeral Home, with Rev. Ernest Standifer officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Thistle Farms (https://thistlefarms.org), Care International (https://www.care-international.org), and/or Special Olympics (https://specialolympics.org).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the Sawyer family.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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