COLUMBIA — A memorial service for Amy F. Joye will be held 4 p.m. Thursday at Trinity UMC, Blythewood. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is in charge. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be her uncles, Eddie West, Jr. (Judy), Conway, Michael Joye (Lucille), Princeton, NJ, Steve Joye (Jennifer), Mullins and Garden City Beach, Greg Joye (Sandy), Ballentine, Scott Sherman (Karen), Mt. Pleasant, Michael McPherson (Margaret), Florence, Kevin Joye (deceased), Mullins, and her aunt, Rhonda West, Pamplico. Amy was born January 22, 1968, to Sylvia and Channing Joye in Columbia, S.C.; she has two younger brothers, Rodney (Kimarie) and Ashley (Leslie). She was predeceased by her grandparents, Amy and Stoll Joye of Mullins, SC, and Eddie West of Pamplico, SC. Her grandmother, Frances West of Pamplico, survives her. She is also survived by four nieces and nephews: Channing and Carlie Joye (Rodney and Kimarie) and Wyatt and Megan Joye (Ashley and Leslie). Amy attended elementary, middle, and high school in Columbia. She earned a BS in Biological Sciences in 1990 from Clemson University with a GPA of 3.2 and a MS in Sports Nutrition in 1995 from Georgia State University with a GPA of 3.9. In 1996, she completed a Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Georgia State University with a GPA of 3.7 and became a Registered Dietitian. During 2001 to 2002, she completed several graduate courses in horticulture at Clemson University. She received a Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management in 2002 and a Certificate of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management in 2003 from the American Dietetic Association. Amy’s employment history from 1993 to 2004 included working as a Graduate Research Assistant at Georgia State University for Dr. Dan Benardot in Atlanta, GA; part-time employment as an Administrative Associate and DEXA Technician at the Osteoporosis Evaluation Centers in Dunwoody, GA; Accounting Clerk at Hardaway Concrete Center in Columbia, SC; Clinical Dietitian for Sodexho-Marriott at the Medical University of South Carolina for Mary Basel and Dr. Pat O’Neil in Charleston, SC; Graduate Research Assistant at Clemson University for Dr. Jim Faust in Clemson, SC; assistant to the County Extension Agent for Clemson University Extension Services in Lexington, SC; and Research Associate and Project Director at the University of South Carolina for Dr. Suzi Baxter in Columbia, SC. Amy’s memberships and volunteer positions/activities included: Nutrition consultant to Lexington Medical Center’s FitKids Camp, Education Chair of the Columbia Midlands Dietetic Association: 2003-2004, American Dietetic Association and South Carolina Dietetic Association: 1996-2004, Charleston Trident Dietetic Association: 1997-2000, Education Chair, Nominating Chair: Charleston Trident Dietetic Association: 1997-1999, 1996 Summer Olympics Medical Volunteer, Consulting Nutritionist: Azio Saddle Tramps, 1995 Race Across America (RAAM), Speaking: Liver Disease Symposium, Leukemia Society of America, EarthFare, South Carolina Horticulture Industries. Amy had an ablation done on her heart on December 1, 2004. What should have been a routine medical procedure turned into a medical tragedy that led to cardiac arrest and resulted in severe brain damage. Amy remained in a semi-alert, comatose state. Amy loved her cats, planting vegetable gardens and sharing her harvest with others, going on “play dates” with her toddler nephew (Channing Joye) and toddler cousin (Victor Sherman), whom she thought of as a nephew, spendi ng time with her family (at home and at the beach), her dietetics profession, and nutrition research. After growing her hair to the required length and then having it cut, she donated it to “Locks of Love” in 2004; this inspired several of her co-workers to do the same. In honor of Amy and her love for life and her profession, the South Carolina Dietetic Association Board and the Georgia Dietetic Association Board voted to establish a Named Fund through the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF). The required minimum of $50,000 was raised which makes Amy’s fund a permanently restricted fund, with the interest only being granted annually. The fund will be used to make research awards, with the specifics to be determined by a Task Force. Members of the Task Force (to establish criteria for the research awards) will include Suzi Baxter, Linda Schuessler, Dan Benardot, and Pat O’Neil. Please sign online guestbook at _www.dunbarfunerals.com_ (http://www.dunbarfunerals.com/) . Published in The State on 6/24/2009 **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000004)