Joy Marie Patterson Hardin died peacefully at Methodist Germantown Hospice on March 24, 2023. She was born on May 14, 1947 to Lawrence Orient Patterson and Marion Elizabeth Baird Patterson. Joy graduated form White Station High School and Memphis State University with a degree in elementary education She was a member of the Christian Science faith.

After graduating from college in 1969, she started teaching at Roulhac's Preschool in Memphis, Tennessee and remained there for 43 years. She touched so many children over the years and her classroom was always fun and exciting. Her dedication to enriching the children she taught was very evident. She also trained dogs in the Schutzhund method and was a faithful volunteer at the Memphis Humane Society. She spent many hours as a docent at the Memphis Zoo.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John Marvin Hardin of Memphis, Tennessee.

She is survived by her good friends, Margaret Hillhouse Dean and Daniel Merrick Dean of Germantown, Tennessee; Christopher Carl Layton and Erika Strahl Layton of Knoxville, Tennessee; Gwenyth Elise Layton of Knoxville, Tennessee; her friend, Michael Ramsey of Memphis, Tennessee; Plough Towers in Memphis, Tennessee; Tate's Supportive Living in Memphis, Tennessee and many, many children and friends from Roulhac's.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to: Memphis Humane Society 935 Farm Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134