Joyce Ann Sneed

To everything there is a season, and on March 1, 2017, The Lord called Joyce home. On February 13, 1946, Joyce Ann Hicks was born the third child of Lewis and Vera Hicks in Waco, Texas. Joyce was an inquisitive child who loved school and could often be found reading in the bathroom, her secret study hideaway.

Joyce attended A.J. Moore High School where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1964. She then attended Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas, where she was a member and president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Alpha Kappa Chapter, Huston Tillotson College, received a Bachelor of Arts, and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1968. Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior in 1969 at the Church of The New Testament in Austin, Texas.

Upon graduation, she decided to make Austin her home and accepted a job with the Department of Veteran Affairs, where she worked for 34 years as a computer programmer, auditor, analyst, EEO counselor, and Financial Systems Team Lead. She was married to Bobby Sneed, Sr. for twenty five years and to this marriage three children were born, Cynthia, Audra and Bobby,Jr. During her early adult years, she enjoyed traveling, baking, knitting, serving as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, spending time with her family, and helping others.

Joyce was a fighter and after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2002, she partnered with the American Cancer Society and shared her testimony of God’s grace and mercy through Celebration of Life events.

She faithfully attended St. James Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the Senior Saints choir until she was no longer physically able to attend. Joyce was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend who unselfishly gave of herself and touched the lives of everyone she encountered.

With unwavering faith, she fought the good fight, she finished her course, and she kept her faith. She was preceded in death by her parents Lewis Hicks and Vera Hicks, and brother, Lewis Hicks. She is survived by Bobby Sneed, Sr., three wonderful children: Cynthia Sneed, Audra Patridge (Charles), and Bobby, Jr., three beautiful grandchildren: Taelar Smith, Adanna Rollins, and Paige Patridge. She leaves to cherish fond and precious memories; sisters, Lillian McIvory, Isabella Gage (William-Deceased), Betty Dickson (Alfred), Carol Rush, brothers, Lawrence Hicks, George Hicks (Evelyn), Sedrick Hicks (Dewann), and Illya Hicks (Casmine) and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, other relatives and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock in the evening until eight o’clock in the evening, Friday, the 10th of March at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin TX 78752.

Funeral Services will be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning, Saturday, the 11th of March at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 3417 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Austin TX 78721. Interment will follow funeral services at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas.