Colonel Joyce Fisher Fields

On March 3, 2023, Colonel Joyce Fisher Fields ("the Colonel"), age 86 of Birmingham, AL, went to be with the Lord. For 61 years, he was a wonderful and devoted husband to his beloved wife, Helen Zeigler Fields. He was an amazing father to his three daughters and an adoring grandfather to his grandchildren. Born and raised in Hahira, GA, the Colonel considered his father to be the biggest influence on his life. The greatest lesson his father taught him was to 'treat others as you want to be treated,'and the Colonel lived his every day of life by this lesson. The Colonel had a great sense of humor, loved to make people laugh and he never met a stranger.

The Colonel earned a bachelor's degree from Valdosta State College and a master's degree from The University of Southern California. The Colonel served 31 years in the United States Army. He was an Army Aviator and proudly served two combat tours in Vietnam flying Huey and Cobra gunship helicopters and also served in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. He received numerous awards during his military career, including the highest honors- the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 5 Bronze Stars, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and 30 Air Medals. The Colonel served in a number of notable positions while in the military. Among his favorite assignments were his years serving as the Defense and Army Attache in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and his years as Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Alabama in the 1980s. While stationed at the University, the Colonel became an avid fan of the Crimson Tide.

The Colonel was a devout Christian. He was a member of Brookwood Baptist Church in Birmingham since 1994. From 2000 - 2012, the Colonel served as the Director of Pastoral Care & Senior Adults at Brookwood. Throughout his life, he went on mission trips around the world and helped build churches across the United States.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Zeigler Fields; daughters, Elizabeth (Gregg) Hahn, Jennifer (Todd) Bell, and Jessica Fields (Chris Rusnak); grandchildren Robert Amason, Caroline Amason, Cooper Bell, Audra Bell, Sofia Bell, Paul (Caitlin) Hahn, Thomas Hahn, and Sydney Rusnak; sister Hazel (Charlie) Heifner, brothers Julian (Dona) Fields and David (Ginger) Fields.

The Colonel was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Eva Fields of Hahira, GA.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Colonel's many personal caregivers as well as his caregivers from Danberry and Aspire.

Funeral services, with military honors, will be held Friday, March 10, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel with burial to follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following:

Tuscaloosa Rotary Honor Flight PO Box 2403

Tuscaloosa, AL 35403

Brookwood Baptist Church Missions Fund 3449 Overton Road

Birmingham, AL 35233

or a charity of your choice.