Joy Southwell, 83, an accomplished social worker and therapist, avid churchgoer and choir singer, lover of all plants and animals, died Sunday, August 29, 2021, after a brief decline. She was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, and lived for most of her life in Amherst. She relocated to Florida to be near her late son, Brian MacDonald, and granddaughter, Davika MacDonald, but returned to her hometown of Amherst in 2020, where she spent her final days surrounded by her beloved cat, Mickey, new puppy Sienna, and her close friends. In her last days she expressed profound gratitude for the love and support she was blessed to receive throughout her life. She leaves her granddaughter and her infant great-granddaughter. A burial ceremony will be held at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst on September 3 at 1 pm. The O'Brien Family Funeral Home in South Hadley has been entrusted with the arrangements. adleyHadleyFor more information or to make online condolences please go obrienfamilyfh.com.