Joy Cayton Jones, 68, passed away on June 28, 2025, surrounded by her family. Joy was born in New Bern, NC and lived and grew up throughout Eastern North Carolina. After graduating from UNC-Greensboro, Joy married and started her family, ultimately settling in Jacksonville, NC and making it their home for the last 35 years.

Joy spent more than 37 years as a real estate broker in the region, helping hundreds of people find "joy in home ownership." She cared deeply about ensuring folks found the right home for that moment in their life and stayed connected with many of her clients as they turned a house into a home.

Joy is survived by her husband of 47 years, Gene; her daughters, Lori, Caroline, and Ariana (Andrew); grandchildren, Harper, Mattis, Heidi, and Mason; her brother, Ellis Cayton and his wife, Alison; niece and nephew, Frances and Donald Cayton; and cousin, Larry Lomonte.

She will also be dearly missed by her long-time colleagues and friends within the Jacksonville Board of Reality, the Onslow County Senior Center, the Eastern NC Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and Jacksonville Toastmasters, Club 3478.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frances and Verne Cayton, Sr.

A private family service will be held later this year. The family asks you to honor Joy by taking a moment to visit a beautiful body of water to enjoy the sunset. She always asked that "Dust in the Wind" be played to remember her.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Joy to the Alzheimer's Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 or the Onslow County Senior Center, 4955 Richlands Hwy, Jacksonville, NC 28540.