Joy D. Hadden, age 73, of Vidalia, died Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia following an extended illness.  She was born in Vidalia on December 31, 1949 to the late Eschol J Downie and Geneva Glisson Downie.  She was a lifelong resident of Vidalia and a 1968 graduate of Vidalia High School.  She was a graduate of Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, earning Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Education Specialist degrees, all in Middle School Education.  She retired after thirty-one years from the Vidalia Board of Education at J.R. Trippe Middle School where she taught seventh and eighth grade Science.  She was a member of Vidalia Cornerstone Church.  She was a prolific reader and enjoyed spending time with her family.

Her family includes her husband of forty-seven years, John T. Hadden; three children, John T. Hadden III and wife Jennifer of Athens, Robert D. Hadden and wife Brenda, and Becky Hadden, all of Vidalia; one sister, Pennie D. Moses and husband Lloyd of Uvalda; four grandchildren, Madeline Hadden and Jack Hadden of Athens and Ryan Hadden and Mary Hadden of Vidalia,

and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon, September 17th, from 1:00 until just prior to the funeral service at 2:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Reverend David Blalock officiating.  Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the J.R. Trippe Scholarship, c/o Kiwanis Club of Vidalia, PO Box 1183, Vidalia, GA 30475.  

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joy (Downie) Hadden, please visit our floral store.