Joyce Dell Kirkland

After a long battle with cancer, Joyce Dell Hyde Kirkland, of Guntersville, passed away peacefully at home Friday, March 20th. After falling gravely ill on her 83rd birthday, February 10th, Joyce rallied over the next weeks with her family and friends caring for and visiting her, surrounding her with love and support. Her final outcry shortly before she took her last breath, “I’m coming Home!” A life long resident of Marshall County, Joyce was born to Robert Hyde Sr. and O’Dell Bright Hyde. She grew up in the Asbury community on a farm with her grandparents Jasper T "Dallas" and Nannie Bright until 1957, when she entered the 8th grade at Marshall County High School, where she graduated in 1961. She lived the rest of her life in Guntersville. While raising her children, Joyce worked at H.D. Lee in Guntersville from 1968 until the plant closed in 1990. She began as a sewing machine operator, working her way up to Lead Instructor, where she was known as a strict but kind supervisor praised for her hard work and dedication to the company and other employees’ success. After the closure, Joyce shared her work ethic with other local companies until she was able to step back and enjoy her real passion as a caregiver. First for private families’ relatives; then for close family and friends, and most especially helping raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren over the years. A strong woman of faith throughout her life, in the last years, Joyce attended Red Hill Global Methodist Church with the majority of her close family. Preceded in death by her husband Jerry Kirkland and daughter Tammy Kyle (Terry), Joyce is survived by her son Michael Isbell and daughter Cass Purdum (Jeffrey); her twin sister Judy Davis, sister Renee Compton and brother Thomas “Yankee” Hyde Jr.; her grandchildren Bailee Purdum Newman (Colby), Gabrielle Purdum, Jep Purdum (Tori), Karson Kyle (Mindy) and Brittany Kyle Rungruang (Hayden); great grandchildren, Colter and Olivia Newman, Drea and Brie Kyle, and Nori and Connor Rungruang. Along with many beloved nieces, nephews. Her children express their deepest gratitude to Shepherds Cove Hospice, their dedicated staff, and to the many family and friends that visited and helped care for her. Especially the respite care provided by her nieces Bonita Kirkland and Nan Cleveland and cousin Linda Tolbert. After a service at Guntersville Memorial Chapel, Joyce will be laid to rest beside her loving husband at Marshall Memory Garden in Albertville. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice or their preferred non profit cancer organization.

Joyce Dell Kirkland

February 10, 1943 - March 20, 2026