In a time where true love often feels like a fleeting dream, Joyce and Bobby McGee’s story stands as a testament to enduring romance and lifelong friendship. In November, they celebrated 61 years of marriage, proving that their bond has only strengthened over the decades and has grown deeper and richer with each passing year.
“Both of us were born and raised here in Shelbyville. As we grow older, we realize that the old saying, ‘The longer you are together, the more you love each other,’ is true,” said Joyce. “We met at the old Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church at the Rubber Mill, as it was called back then. I thought he was handsome, and he was in church with his family. That really impressed me.”
Joyce, a dedicated keeper of memories, has saved every Valentine’s Day card and special note Bobby has ever given her over the years. As she reminisces over these cherished mementos, Joyce recalls the early days of their relationship and the countless seconds that have defined their life together. Each card captures a moment in time — a birthday, an anniversary, or a day made extra special by a simple note of Bobby’s love.
“I’m not sure how many I have saved — probably close to 50. I keep them in a tote. They are special because they all have a different message. We married when I was 18 and Bobby was almost 22. So many people thought it would never work, but after 61 years, I think it did. We now have three sons, eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and another on the way.”
Reflecting back to the time before they were married, Bobby said, “Joyce and I were in the youth group together and we became friends. She had a great personality, and a pleasing smile all the time. She was a pleasure to be around.”
Even after 61 years, Joyce and Bobby remain best friends. They enjoy spending time together, whether it’s a quiet evening at home, shopping at the grocery store together, or planning a gathering with their ever-growing church family. Their children and grandchildren often look to them for wisdom and guidance, inspired by the example of love and dedication they’ve set for all to see.
Through the years, it’s been the simple pleasures of life that have meant the most. When asked what outing she looks forward to, Joyce replied, “Bobby and I get out and ride the country roads together whenever we can.”
The McGees’ advice for other couples is, “Keep God at the center of your marriage. Always talk to each other and keep the lines of communication open. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.”
For anyone who is single and hopes to find their soulmate one day soon, Joyce’s mother used to advise her not to date anyone she wouldn’t consider marrying.
The couple also share a love for investing in others, as both have a servant’s heart. Together, as pastor and pastor’s wife, they have walked the halls of every hospital and nursing home within a 50-mile radius of Shelbyville as they visit with members of the church Bobby started, Grace Baptist Church.
Both Bobby and Joyce are gifted with a talent for music, and Joyce said, “My absolute favorite memory is the time when Bobby gave me a piano for Christmas. While celebrating Christmas Eve at my parents’ house, he gave me a picture of our three boys standing beside the piano in our living room!”
The McGees’ story is not just about a lasting marriage but about the power of love and friendship that withstands the test of time and grows stronger through a lifetime of ups and downs. Their journey of six decades is the perfect reminder that finding true love is truly possible.
“We have never had many struggles,” said Joyce. “We always had a roof over our heads and food on our table.” And because music is so much a part of her life, Joyce smiled and added, “That sounds like a song, doesn’t it?”
