The Revd Joy Males: 1931-2020 

Nurse, writer, teacher and minister - Joy packed a lot into life 

Joy was born in Shillingstone Dorset in 1931, where she lived with her mum, dad and brother Ted. Later educated at Blanford Grammer School she was then allowed to train as a nursing junior at Bath, age 16.

Joy moved to London in 1950 at the tender age of 19 to train at the Nelson Hospital to became a SRN (state registered nurse), then going to Woolwich and South London hospital to train for midwifery. Joy met Bernard at Merton Park Baptist Church and they married in 1955 then had children Peter, Stephen and Pauline.

While Joy was a district nurse she also wrote for Family Circle magazine, where she answered problems as ‘Sister Hilary.’ Her skill, not only to learn but to teach was recognised and she taught at City and East London College, teaching young people with learning disabilities and health subjects.

Having felt called to become a lay preacher and speaking at women’s meetings and church services all over London, Joy then felt called to train at Spurgeon’s College, where once again she displayed a great aptitude for learning, obtaining a BA in theology. Joy was then ordained as an associate minister at Merton Park Baptist Church in 1984. Joy ministered until her retirement in 1992.

Joy packed a lot into life and cared for her grandchildren and enjoyed painting and creative writing. In later life Joy gradually lost her sight but continued to speak at meetings and paint with the Merton Vision group. Joy had dementia in her later years and lived at Orchard House Nursing Home, where the staff cared so well her.