Melicent Joyathene “Joy” Layne Nelms, 92, of Martinsburg, WV passed away Sunday, September 27, 2026, at her home in Martinsburg.

Mrs. Nelms was a true Coal Miner’s Daughter born March 7, 1934, and raised in the Pound, VA, a daughter of the late James Walker and Mattie Powers Layne. Mrs. Nelms was a member of the Open Door Baptist Church in Clearbrook, VA and worked as a phone operator at Sears Catalog Store for many years. She was a professional cake decorator/caterer who loved to bake and won many blue ribbons at fairs for decorated cakes and other baked goods. She enjoyed painting, traveling, gardening, especially growing heirloom variety tomatoes. In addition to parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, William Edward “Ed” Nelms, who passed in 2020 at the age of 91, along with her siblings James Tolby Layne, Veldon B. Layne, Charles Layne and Angie May Layne.

Survivors include her children Wayne Nelms (Judith)of Titusville, FL, Christopher Nelms (Yvonne) of Scranton, SC, Shelly Nelms-Perez (Edward) of Lawsonville, NC and Jennifer Whitehead (Kerry) of Martinsburg, WV; 21 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great grandchildren along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral service for Mrs. Nelms will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Stover Funeral Home and Crematory in Strasburg, VA. Burial will follow in Lebanon Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday one hour prior to the service.

Pallbearers will be Wayne Nelms, Chris Nelms, Daniel Nelms, Ryan Sweeney, Jonathan Nelms, and Dustin Sweeney.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430.

You may submit your condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Melicent Joyathene Nelms.