Joyce Coats

Joyce Pleasant Coats, of Cary, NC, peacefully returned home to the Lord on October 16, 2025, after a brave battle with liver disease. Joyce was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend throughout her 78 years of Christian service.

Born on February 18, 1947, in Angier, NC, Joyce was the first child and only daughter of J.R. and Edna Pleasant. She grew up on a tobacco farm next door to her paternal grandparents (Mama Pleasant and Papa Joe) and just down the road from her maternal grandmother (Mama Flowers). This upbringing instilled a strong value in family, hard work, and resourcefulness in Joyce that would remain a constant throughout her life.

Joyce graduated from Angier High School in 1965. After high school, she studied at Campbell University and later the University of North Carolina, where she earned an Early Childhood Education degree in 1971. Joyce had a special gift for connecting with children and turned this into a 30-year career as a public-school teacher, primarily teaching kindergarten and preschool. She also regularly taught children's Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and served as children's Sunday School director at various points throughout her life.

Joyce met the love of her life, Ronnie Coats, when she was a sophomore in high school. She and Ronnie, whom she affectionately called by his middle name "Mac", married on September 3, 1967. Joyce described Ronnie as "my rock and helped me have a life full of travel, adventure, and family." Joyce and Ronnie loved spending time together at their vacation home in White Lake, NC and regularly attending Broadway shows through DPAC's Broadway series. Later in life, Joyce and Ronnie were able to devote time to traveling, including several 'bucket list' trips in recent years - Europe, the Holy Lands, and Alaska just to name a few. Despite her world travels, none compared to the pride she felt of finally having the courage to cross The Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain in 2023 - something she had been afraid to do since childhood.

Joyce was an avid gardener and could regularly be found outside, digging in the dirt to plant something new. She called this her time to connect with God and his creation. Over the years, Joyce turned her yard into a beautiful oasis, filled with plants propagated from the yards of various family members. Each plant had a history and story of someone who had played a special role in her life.

Joyce was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church (MBC) where she was able to teach children's Sunday School as well as preschool at MBC's preschool ministry, The Children's Place. An unexpected opportunity at MBC came in recent years when God called Joyce to teach a senior adult ladies Sunday School class. As someone whose passion had always centered around teaching children, Joyce often talked about how grateful she was for the surprising and rewarding impact the experience of teaching adult ladies later in life had on her own faith journey.

Joyce's greatest joy was her five grandchildren, who knew her as 'Grandmama'. With a passion for the outdoors, time with Grandmama was always active and full of surprises. It was typical for a grandchild to come home from Grandmama and Papa's messy (in a good way) from an elaborate art project, exhausted from another adventure, and, of course, well-fed.

Among all the beauty in her life, Joyce was always very open about her diagnosis of clinical depression in 1977 - which she referred to as her 'cross to bear'. At a time when mental health was not as well understood or accepted as it is today, Joyce was a pioneer and vocal advocate about this crippling illness. Instead of allowing depression to win, Joye recognized the task God presented to her and used her experiences to help other struggling with the same. It was common for her to be connected to folks through a mutual acquaintance to serve as a listening ear and support. Joyce's servant heart never hesitated to answer when she felt God's call to help another in need.

Joyce is survived by her children, Mark Coats (Jackie) and Melissa Miranda (Tony); her five cherished grandchildren, Emsley, Karis, and Kyla Coats and Andrew and Alexandra Miranda; brothers, Carlton Levone Pleasant (Karen) and Ronnie Pleasant (Cinda); and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Ronnie Coats, who was called home just a few weeks before her on September 22, and her parents, J.R. and Edna Pleasant. The family draws great comfort in knowing Joyce and Ronnie are back together again after fiercely battling her own terminal illnesses, side by side, over the past few years.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 6-8PM in the Fellowship Hall of Macedonia Baptist Church (MBC) at 7100 Holly Springs Road in Raleigh. A celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, from 11AM-12PM in the Sanctuary of MBC and will reconvene at 2:30PM for a graveside service in Lakeside Memorial Gardens at 2712 Oak Grove Church Road in Angier, NC.

In lieu of flowers, Joyce requested we leave something behind that grows by planting a rose bush or tree. Alternatively, donations can be made to The Children's Place at Macedonia Baptist Church, The Raleigh Rescue Mission, or The Raleigh Rose Garden. The family also wishes to thank the staff at Swift Creek Health Center, The Templeton of Cary, and Transitions LifeCare for their compassionate care and support during this time.