Joyce Elaine Burge, daughter of Martha Neely Burge of Essex and the late Earl William Burge, was born on Oct. 22, 1951, at Ponca City, Okla., and died in the St. Louis University Hospital on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at the age of 54.

She was a former secretary for the V.N.A., Dexter office, a member of the Essex First Baptist Church and a resident of Essex.

Survivors include one son, Benjamin Thomas Burge of Essex; her mother, Martha Neely Burge of Essex; and one brother, Charles Burge of Potosi.

Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Gary Gilbert officiating.

Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery.