Giffin blends culinary skills into retirement

MADISON — In Madison, strangers look you in the eye, smile and say, “Hello,” when you’re out and about, Joyce Giffin said.

“Madison’s people and location make it a great town,” Joyce said. “Even though the people come from all over, they share the same friendly attitude associated with small Southern towns.”

If Joyce and husband Gerald go out of town, their neighbors are willing to roll their garbage dumpster off the street, water plants and keep a neighborhood watch on their street.

The Giffins retired to Madison after many years in Wellington, Fla. Both towns are “family friendly, have excellent schools, good shopping and a relaxed lifestyle,” Joyce said.

“One difference we appreciate is people here are more likely to mention church in conversation than in South Florida. A West Palm Beach weather newscaster would not say that you (can) get to church before the rain begins, for example,” Joyce said.

Years ago, Joyce worked at Redstone Arsenal after business school and before college. Gerald worked at Brown Engineering before entering college. “We had owned property here since the 1980s. My husband and his brother built our house in 2008. We moved here in 2011,” she said.

The Giffins like Madison’s access to major interstates, airport and large cities only two hours away. They frequently make road trips to visit family in Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Joyce grew up on a farm in Taft, Tenn. and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Gerald hails from Wirt County, W.V.

Their daughter’s family lives in Murfreesboro, Tenn., while their son’s family lives in West Palm Beach. The Giffins have three grandchildren, who they “love beyond measure. They help keep us young!”

Joyce volunteers with Madison church of Christ, particularly Care Bear ministry for Huntsville Hospital. She also helps English as a Second Language classes and belongs to Arts Huntsville and Red Hat Society.

Joyce retired as a Family and Consumer Science teacher. Sustaining her love of culinary arts, Joyce founded It’s Thyme to Cook (www.itsthymetocook.com) and offers adult cooking classes and culinary summer camps for younger children and teens.

“Classes are in my home kitchen, designed for teaching. My camps are popular and fill quickly,” Joyce said. “Most recently, I’ve been honored as a contributor to the ‘Let’s Eat’ section of ‘Madison Living’ magazine.”