Joyce Faye Hill's Obituary
In Loving Memory of
Joyce Faye Hill
February 17, 1952 - September 6, 2021
Memorial Program
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 1:00 p.m.
(Virtual)
Obituary
Joyce Faye Hill was born on February 17, 1952 in Grand Cane, Louisiana, the ninth of ten children born to Clister Hill and Henrietta Blackmon Hill.
Joyce will be remembered for being fearless, smart, warm, engaging and a loyal worshipper of Jehovah! As a young girl, her siblings described her as being a bit of a tomboy who was not afraid of anything! If the boys went running through the bushes, so did she! Joyce would retain her fearlessness and sense of adventure as an adult travelling around the world, but she would exchange those tomboy traits for a love of fashion and pearls! She traveled extensively, sometimes with tour groups and/or family members and sometimes she traveled solo. It was nothing for her to drop in on family members and surprise them with requests to be taken to the airport to board international flights to Tel Aviv, Israel; Cairo, Egypt; Guatemala, Africa or Europe! No place was too far! She would even drive cross country by herself at a moment's notice.
Her Career and Formal Education
After graduating from Desoto High School in Mansfield, LA in 1970, Joyce moved to Seattle, WA to be with her sisters. She started her career in an office clerical position. After a few years she would relocate to San Francisco, CA to live with her sister Clarice and work as a stenographer clerk and secretary to the Chief of the main library at the Civic Center. She began taking classes to be a librarian but because of her yearning to see the world, she resigned and went to work for United Airlines to continue her globetrotting. Later, she returned to school completing a Bachelors’ degree program at San Francisco State University. In 1998, she moved to Hayward, CA to be near her sister Clarice and began a career as a teacher for the Hayward Unified School District. While teaching she attended CSU Hayward, graduating in 2001 with a Master's degree in MFCC (Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling).
The Highlight of Her Life: Her Theocratic Service
Joyce excelled in everything that she did, she could sew like a seamstress, cook gourmet dishes like Julia Child (stuffed Capon was a favorite), but the most enjoyable times in her life were spent in the ministry as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Joyce was introduced to the bible based publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a young girl after her Mother’s search to find spiritual truths led to a family bible study. The brothers from the local Kingdom Hall in Mansfield, LA, which was segregated at that time, studied the bible with the family as a group. Joyce joined the study with her parents, her siblings that were living at home, her grandmother, and her mother’s sister and her children. This was a large group and they would dedicate their lives to Jehovah and get baptized in multiples at large conventions or in ponds at small assemblies. At the age of 13, Joyce also dedicated her life to Jehovah God and symbolized her dedication by water baptism on August 8, 1965.
Joyce continued her travels visiting the Bethel Home in Brooklyn, NY, the assembly hall in New Jersey, and attending conventions all over the world meeting fellow worshippers of Jehovah from Santa Barbara, CA to Paris, France. She eventually settled into the Hayward Hills Congregation where she became a member of another large family. Joyce remained a faithful and loyal Witness of Jehovah down to the end of her life course. Although gravely ill, she reflected on the scripture at 2 Kings 19:6 where she had written on a notepad, Do Not Be Afraid! Jehovah's words to King Hezekiah. Joyce believed in God's promise of life on a paradise earth -- for she was a firm believer that this life is not all there is!
While both of Joyce's families will miss her dearly, we find comfort in knowing that we have the opportunity to see her again! John 5:28, 29
Joyce was preceded in death by her father, Clister Hill, her mother, Henrietta Hill, her sister, Irma Hill, her sister, Clarice Collins, and her brother, Freeman Hill. She is survived by 2 brothers: Murray Hill and Lloyd Hill; 4 sisters: Inesia Hill, Nedoshia Lester, Annie Broadnax, and Barbara Butler, numerous nieces, and nephews, and a host of extended family and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Joyce?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joyce?
Share a story where Joyce's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joyce you’ll never forget.
How did Joyce make you smile?