HEAVENLY JOY LAFAVE

Heavenly “Joy” Garner was born in Alexandria VA on October 13, 1982, to Laura Woodward. Growing up, she moved around with her mother or lived with her grandmother, Laura Locke in the Alexandria corridor of Fairfax County Virginia. Joy passed away quietly with family and friends at her bedside, on May 26, 2022, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA. She was courageous, resilient, and brave in her long battle against cancer. She was proceeded in death by her Grandmother Laura Salome Locke, her Mother Laura Woodward, and her Daughter Lilliana Elizabeth LaFave. She is survived by her 3 children Nick, Erin, and David Garner. Her Siblings, Jenny Lynn Vallisuphan, Carlos Meadows, David D. Coulson, Katie Laccone, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, loved ones and friends. Joy started her family young in Virginia and later moved to Maryland. She later moved out west where she joined Job Corp to begin a new career. In 2010, she returned with her family to be closer to FT Belvoir hospital for beautiful baby Lillianna. While caring for Lilliana, Joy discovered her love for taking care of children with special needs. Inspired, in 2011, she went back to school to get her LPN, graduating in 2013 from Epic. Years later, now living in Fredericksburg, VA she decided that she was going to go for her RN. Working 2 jobs as an LPN, she started going to school full time to accomplish her dream at Chambers University in 2017. During this period, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She did not let this deter her and in 2021, she graduated and passed her board to become an RN. She then was accepted into a RN program at Mary Washington where she officially earned the title RN. She continued working her second job as a private caregiver, taking care of an amazing little girl, that became a part of her family. Joy continued to love and spread her "JOY" to everyone she knew and met. Her love of God was inspiring and never wavering. Her love of life was to live to the fullest, to enjoy every moment with her family and the dear friends that were like family to her. Most of all, her love for her children was a source of her strength. Her children David, Erin Nick, and Lillianna were her heart and soul. She cherished them and was grateful for every moment she spent with them. The viewing will be on Friday, June 24, 2022, at Jefferson Funeral Chapel 5755 Castlewellan Dr. Alexandria VA. 22315 from 10 am to 11 am; followed by a memorial service from 11 am to 12 pm. The burial will be at MT Comfort cemetery 6600 S. Kings HWY Alexandria VA. 22306 at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, Joy requested donations to Cure ATP6, part of the Cure Mito Foundation in her memory. This charity is fighting to find a cure for a brave 4-year-old girl and her family who were special to Joy. https://give.rarevillage.org/campaign/cure-atp6/c322315

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HEAVENLY JOY LAFAVE

October 13, 1982 - May 26, 2022