Joyce S. Edwards

Sister Joyce Edwards was the first of three daughters born to union of Willie Edwards and Lazelle Gordon. Those who knew her best would describe Joyce as a kind, gentle, good-hearted and hard-working servant of the Lord. She was born in Oberlin, Ohio, on October 2, 1954 and it was there that she spent the majority of her earthly journey. At an early age, Joyce accepted Christ as her savior and was baptized at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin. As a youth at Mount Zion she participated in Sunday School, the youth choir and other programs. She attended the Oberlin public schools and graduated from Oberlin Senior High School in 1973. Following graduation, she became a devoted and loving mother of two children; Alphonse Duane Edwards and Kasacha Edwards. Additionally, she was a mother figure to several of the friends of her offspring. Joyce often provided food, shelter and housing to those in need. In addition to raising a family, for many years Joyce was employed in food preparation at Oberlin College. She retired in 2020 after many years of service. Joyce was a faithful and dedicated member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. She greatly enjoyed singing in the Senior Choir and attending the adult Sunday School class. In times of leisure, Joyce contented herself in listening to gospel music, completing word match puzzles, watching television, and reading. In her later years, Joyce was diagnosed with cancer, resulting in several surgeries and numerous rounds of treatments. During this same period, she experienced the loss of both her children. First Kasacha and then a few months later Duane. However, Joyce never complained. Anchored and grounded by her faith in God, Joyce took on the task of raising her granddaughter, Keara. Joyce peacefully fell asleep in the Lord during the early morning hours of Friday, February 17, 2022, at the Mercy Health Medical Center in Lorain, Ohio. She is survived by one sister, Deseree Caver (David) of Elyria, Ohio; eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; Willie and Lazelle; both of her children, Duane and Kasacha; and a sister, Michelle Edwards-Quattlebaum.

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