Joyce was born at Grady County Hospital in Cairo, Georgia on December 31, 1948. She was the first child of the late Arthur Eugene Sasser and Ruby Irene Myrick. She graduated from Highland Park High School of Chicago, Illinois as the Class of 1967. She worked in civil service and also in grocery stores.
In her youth, Joyce was a member of Columbus Assembly #15 IORG Majority Rainbow Girl. As an adult, she joined Fort Benning Chapter #278 Order of the Eastern Star where she was a member for 50 years. She also was a member of the Columbus Scottish Rite Ladies Auxiliary and Columbus - Fort Benning Shrine Ladies Auxiliary. She loved to volunteer with Shrine Circus, BINGO Kitchen, and Thunder in Valley Air Show. She loved gardening in her yard and animals.
She lived in many places in her life time since her father was in the Army. Joyce was living in Cairo, Georgia while her father was deployed overseas in France and Germany. He was also stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas City, Kansas, Fort Ord in Chicago, Illinois and Fort Moore (Fort Benning) in Columbus, Georgia. When she married Donald Smith, they moved to Michigan. After their divorce, she came home to Columbus, Georgia.
Joyce is survived by her two adopted sons, Daniel Smith and Matthew Smith of Michigan; two sisters, Eugenia Irene Sasser Poole of Carterville, Georgia and Sally Jane Sasser Hall of Columbus, Georgia; four nephews, Lawrence Michael (Robin) Poole of Rome, Georgia, Charles Eason Hall Jr. of Columbus, Georgia, Arthur Eugene Hall of Columbus, Georgia, James Eric Hall of Columbus, Georgia; and two great nephews, Jeremy and Taylor.
In addition to her parents, Joyce is preceded in death by her ex-husband, Donald G. Smith of Michigan.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Edgewood Hall, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907 on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Rev. Thad Haygood will be officiating the service. Family will visit with friends an hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joyce’s memory to Order of the Eastern Star Service Dog Project, P.O. Box 2436, Kennesaw, Georgia 30156 or to Shriners Children's Hospital of Greenville, South Carolina.
