EV. THOMAS W. JOYNER was born in Southampton county, Virginia, and died at an advanced age, in 1873.

      At the Eastern Virginia Conference, held at Cypress chapel, in 1860, he was a delegate from Union in Southampton county, and being recommended by his church the committee on the Ministry and Ordination after having examined him recommended him as worthy to receive license to preach, and he was duly licensed. In 1865, he was received an Elder into the Conference held at Holy Neck in Nansemond county, Virginia. In 1863, the church at Union in Southampton county recommended Rev. T. W. Joyner for ordination to the office of [341] Elder, and requested Elders W. B. Wellons, Robert Rawls and M. B. Barrett to meet and examine him, and it judged worthy, ordain him, that he might serve the church at Barrett's as pastor, and administer the ordinances of the Church. The request was laid before the only two members of the Conference committee accessible who approved the same, and authorized the examination and ordination by these Elders as an ordaining presbytery. From the time of his ordination he served Barrett's church till the close of the Civil War.

      In 1868, he was at the Conference at Bethlehem. He had organized the church at Johnson's Grove, which he presented to this Conference. In 1870, he attended the Conference at Spring Hill, in Sussex county, and on Tuesday, November 3rd, the Conference morning prayer was led by him. Likewise he attended the Conference at Berkley, in 1871, and at Hebron, in 1872. In his ministerial report he says, "Have preached regularly at Johnson's Grove and Cool Spring, and visited other churches; delivered sixty sermons, offered 160 public prayers, preached 24 funerals, married 24 couples, delivered 3 Sabbath school lectures, and visited many sick persons."

      Before another year had rolled by he had departed this life, and the Conference at Cypress chapel, that its high esteem and love for the departed might have permanent expression and record, adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, That in the death of Rev. T. W. Joyner, whose meekness, piety and efficiency, distinguished him as one of the brightest examples of Christian virtue and usefulness, the Church has lost one of its most faithful and earnest workers, and the country a devoted and patriotic citizen." While his work was not extensive, he filled a most useful place, and devoted himself to the upbuilding of his own native county and community. [342]

[LCM 341-342]