Joyce Brown

Joyce Elizabeth Brown was born on March 16, 1950, to her parents—Leroy Barnes, Sr. of

Grandview, Texas, and Helen Whitty-Barnes of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Joyce had to mature at an

early age because her mother transitioned to heaven when she was only twelve years old. However,

she persevered while managing responsibilities for her father and siblings. In 1969, she graduated

from Waco High School, in Waco, Texas, becoming the first of her siblings to meet this

achievement.

Joyce accepted Christ at age eight and she was extremely gifted in singing. In fact, if her “self-written

joyful tunes” were recorded, she would have easily had four gold records (a gospel, a cooking, an

animal, and a comical one). While in high school, Joyce (aka “Jackie”) met the love of her life, Pastor

Joe W. Brown, Sr., at a church service in San Angelo, Texas. And, after months of long-distance

dating—while Joe was in college—they fell in love and married on June 19, 1969 (“Juneteenth”).

Their union brought forth four children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

“Mama” Brown was brilliant in many ways. She worked at Miller Manufacturing Company in Fort

Worth, Texas, until her retirement in 1997. Joyce was an exquisite seamstress, educator, friend,

motivator, dancer, jokester, an “ultimate encourager,” and as tough as nails. She was determined to

grow, so in 2021, she went to college and successfully completed multiple semesters.

For many years, Joyce served as the pastor’s wife of Discipleship Church of Our Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. She poured into the community, helped numerous individuals and families, and was

loved by all who encountered her. Before her husband preached, she was known for singing songs

like “Trouble of the World” and “Precious Lord.” She was always active, never wanting to sit

around, which made her life more fulfilled; and, for nearly two decades, if you wanted to know

where Joyce was hanging out, all you had to do was go to John Carter’s Restaurant on Lancaster in

Fort Worth, Texas. In recent years, she was a “popular celebrity” at the Waffle House in the Lake

Worth area.

Joyce’s confidence and glamorous fashion designs would have led the way if there was a pageant for

short models. This gracious lady’s demeanor and joyous laughter gravitated people toward her, and

no one can forget how much she loved her pets (i.e., cats and dogs, but especially her chihuahuas

named Lady [2], Sugar, and Tiny). She possessed a very caring personality where she took it upon

herself to checkup on everyone (some of us weekly). This virtuous woman (Proverbs 31) devoted

much of her time and energy to being a homemaker and caregiver to her family. And, an attribute of

her legacy is that everyone felt her unconditional love. She didn’t judge or make excuses for anyone;

she just opened her heart, and Christ was beautifully revealed.

As with everyone’s life, she experienced challenges, pains, and triumphs, but a theme associated with

how much she loved and trusted God was “No Matter What . . ..” Fueled by James Moore’s hit

song, I Am Healed, Joyce never stopped believing in God’s sustaining grace. Her relationship with

God was so close that she knew her time to leave us was near. But she never walked away from her

purpose, her ministry, her family, because she knew she would hear these words: “Well done, good

and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matt. 25:23).

Joyce leaves to cherish her memory a loving husband, Pastor Joe Wayne Brown, Sr. of Fort Worth

TX; four children, Aretha M. Brown-Manning (Leonard) of Fort Worth TX, Joe W. Brown Jr.

(Lora) of Surprise AZ, Dawood A. Brown Sr. of Fort Worth TX, and Jameelah M. Brown of San

Angelo TX; eleven grandchildren, Daaimah A Tibrey, Johnny D. Brown, Joe W. Brown III,

Dawood A. Brown Jr. (special thoughts to Ashleigh “Maè Maè” Robertson), Keon M. Brown,

Amariyah S. Brown, Tiahna A Brown, Ananda M. Brown, Rejanae Z. Brown, Surayyah A. Brown,

and Elizabeth R. Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Malaika R. Wilson, and Jahdai R. Tibrey; and a

host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends. She is also survived by two siblings, Leroy Barnes Jr.

and Jimmie Lee Barnes, and those preceding her in death are Leroy Barnes, Sr. (father), Helen Witty

(mother), Edward Morris Witty Barnes (brother), Phillis Ann Barnes-Williams (sister), and Berde

Mae Barnes-Hernandez (sister).