Mrs. Joyce M. Marshall

OBITUARY

Our dear Joyce Marie Marshall was born January 25, 1947, to the late Lillie Lewis (Mother) and William Joseph Jones (Father) in Savannah, Ga. Joyce was the youngest of her four siblings- William Jr., Vincent, Leamueal, James Jones. She was raised by her grandmother Jennie Jernigin - Jones in Eden, Georgia and spent many days bonding with her as they worked in the fields and tended to the animals. Joyce cherished those memories and often shared them with her family and friends.

Joyce lost her mother at an early age and her grandmother as a teenager and it was these life events that resulted in drawing her to develop faith in Jehovah, God. Her best friend “Peanie” had also lost her grandmother at an early age and during the times they spent together, Peanie asked Joyce a simple question - “How would you like to see your grandmother again?” From then on, Joyce took steps to dedicate her life to the God whom she viewed as a loving, kind, and compassionate Father - a relationship that started at age 27 and lasted up until she took her last breath.

Joyce went to school in Effingham and Chatham County - majoring in Early Childhood Education at Savannah State. She chose this line of study because of her love for children. This love propelled her to begin fostering which she did for over three decades. In that span of time, Joyce provided a loving home for hundreds of children. In addition, she opened a daycare in her home which she lovingly called, “Baby Love Daycare.” This daycare provided a much-needed resource to the community at large and serviced her local neighbors, lawyers, and doctors.

Joyce held true to the “teach a man how to fish'' ideal as she established a mentoring program for women. Her sole purpose was to enable and empower women to keep and provide for their own children thereby, helping them better themselves on a personal and community level.Throughout everything she did in life - and there is so much we can add - Joyce felt that her greatest accomplishment was sharing bible truths with others - the same truths she lived by which was evident in her day-to-day interactions with all she met.

Even as a little girl, Joyce always wanted a large family. Her immediate family began when she married Jimmy Lee Marshall on May 12,1974 and it continued to grow when they opened their hearts and home to their ready-made family. Joyce felt privileged to be the mother to Amanda, Monique, Jimmy “Andre’”, Raheem, Tashay, Toneia and Jayshawn - grandmother to Isabella, Desirae., Jordan, and Kamryn as well as great grandmother to Kortez and Amourá. She poured her love into her family and would frequently be heard saying, “My love for you is overflowing.” Family time was often spent dancing, laughing, playing games, and eating seafood. 

But that love was not simply demonstrated towards her immediate family, Joyce displayed the same amount of warmth and affection to her spiritual family and friends. Hospitality was second nature to her. Many wonderful times were spent at the home she shared with Jimmy - all who came left with a full belly, a full heart and laughter on their lips.

Joyce Marshall touched countless individuals and will be greatly missed. The void she leaves behind is immeasurable.