Mildred Joyce and James Joyce
Mildred Joyce at rest July 22, 2022, and James Joyce at rest April 4, 2026.
Mildred and Jim shared a life marked by devotion to family, love of travel and the joy they found in one another’s company.
Mildred was the loving daughter of Calvin and Helen Stover, sister, wife, mother of three, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of three. Originally from Elbridge, she grew up in a one-room house with a dirt floor and, as a girl, picked cotton, the daughter of a sharecropper. Even with these humble beginnings, she always brought warmth, creativity and kindness into the lives of those around her. She had a passion and gift for interior decorating and gardening, finding beauty in the details of a home, a garden or something lovingly made by hand. Later in life, one of her favorite pleasures was walking along the beach, especially at sunset, searching for sharks’ teeth. Mildred had a gentle and accepting spirit, and those who knew her felt genuinely welcomed, accepted and loved.
Jim was a devoted son, husband of 68 years, father of three, grandfather of five and great-grandfather of four. Growing up in Memphis, he was given a chemistry set as a boy and developed a passion for chemistry that later became a career as a chemical engineer after graduating from Purdue University. His time at Purdue was interrupted to serve in the Korean War, where he instituted a new training program for the Army’s latest asset, the helicopter. Even with this nearly two-year disruption, he still proudly talked about his time in the U.S. Army and the work he did developing a training program. Jim’s fundamental knowledge of chemistry, along with his MBA from Loyola University, made him a natural leader, confident and capable, and his career took him around the world. He enjoyed sharing stories from his travels and found great joy in his family, travel, fine dining, golf, cars and the many experiences he gathered throughout his life.
Jim met Mildred, who was a boarder at his mother’s home in Memphis, where Mildred worked as a bank teller after leaving the farm. Together, Mildred and Jim built a life centered on family, love and shared experiences. They enjoyed raising their children, attending the theater, traveling throughout the United States, sharing fine meals, working on projects around the home, gardening and helping family members whenever they could. Their 68-year marriage was a lasting example of commitment, partnership and devotion.
Mildred and Jim leave behind a loving family deeply shaped by their care, guidance and example. They will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew them.
Together in life, and now remembered together in love, Mildred and Jim leave behind a family blessed by their devotion, strengthened by their example, and comforted by the many memories they created.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Obion County Memorial Gardens in Union City on Friday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m.
The Messenger