Funeral for Joyce Jernigan. A loving mother of 3

Hi, my name is Miles, son of Joy (Joyce). My mother was battling COPD and other health issues for the past few years. Very recently things to a turn for the worst and it was sudden. Medics arrived quickly but it took them 10 minutes to regain a pulse. She was rushed to a hospital but declared brain dead a week later. She has 3 children, including myself. Because this was so sudden and everything moved so quickly, we've had to accept the most inexpensive burial and funeral options available.

But she deserves so much more than that. She deserves a proper funeral. I've been encouraged by friends to create this GoFundMe.

I feel short on words here, but I want to say that she was an amazing person. She had her problems like everyone, but she had a heart of gold. The hole she's left in our lives will never be filled.

She raised her 3 children by herself and maintained a job during it all. She was always there for us, no matter what. Even the problems we brought upon ourselves, she was always there to help. The world will be a dimmer place without her in it.

I've been an emotional wreck for the past week, and that's the case while I'm creating this GoFundMe. I apologize that I'm not being very articulate, but anyone that's lost a loving parent will understand what I've been going through. It's a very difficult thing to accept and process. There are so many things she still wanted to do with her life, and not that opportunity has slipped by.

Any raised funds will go toward her funeral. She wanted to be buried in the same cemetery as her mother, but plots of land are insanely expensive. She understood that when the time came, we'd likely have to cremate her. If that was the case, she wanted her ashes to be spread over the ocean. Specifically Morro Bay in California. It was her favorite place. She always said she felt a spiritual connection to it. Myself, my brother, my sister and my stepfather will all keep a smile urn of her ashes, but the rest we plan to spread over the ocean. She is also an organ donor, and her body is being kept alive for that reason. We don't have a set date yet on anything, they're still running tests to find out what organs are viable.

Thank you for any donations and for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.

And some advice to anyone with a loved one, take a lot of pictures. A lot of videos. Have them record their stories for you to listen to whenever you want. Because you never know when you might lose them.

Thank you again to everyone.