Joyce Stephens

She is survived by her loving husband Mark Kerry Stephens; daughters Amanda Katherine Webb (Joseph

Daniel), Allison Michelle Stephens, and Ashley Marie Stephens (Christine Merle Jacobs); brothers William

Webb (Tracy) and Wayne Webb (Elizabeth); sister Debra Basalik (Evan); granddaughters Katherine Grace and Emily Anne Webb, many nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members and friends.

The impact Joyce’s presence had on those around her was unparalleled.

Born August 15, 1959, in Charleston, West Virginia, to the late William Homer and Wanda Jeraldine Webb (nèe Lawson), Joyce grew up a quintessential “tom boy.” She was an energetic go-getter with a competitive spirit, always trying to get her hands on a ball and determined to win any games she’d play, whether competitively or against her siblings for fun. Affectionately known as “Hot Hands Webb,” Joyce was a star player for her high school basketball team, the DuPont High School Panthers.

She went on to play softball and basketball at Morris Harvey College where she met Mark in the student union. They fell in love and began a marriage that lasted 43

years. She earned degrees in Political Science and Accounting. She and Mark went on to raise three beautiful daughters who loved and admired their mother more than anything.

Joyce recently retired from the West Virginia State Tax Department where she loved to work and loved her co-workers. She enjoyed spending her free time with her twin granddaughters, who affectionately called her “Granny,” and always brought out her childlike, fun-loving personality during their time together.

To sum up a life so big into so few words is nothing short of impossible. While her journey was cut far too short on this earth, she was blessed with a very fulfilling and love-filled life. She will be remembered always by her family and friends as a deeply kind, generous, supportive, uplifting, and encouraging presence in the lives of so many.

She loved her entire family, despite their quirks and disfunction. She worried about them, rooted for them,

protected them, forgave them, and always kept on loving them. Nothing brought Joyce more joy than knowing her children and grandchildren were happy and safe. Along with her nieces and nephews and their children, Joyce also loved and cared deeply for her daughters’ friends and their children, often practicing sports and playing outside with them, as if they were her own. Many of those at Joyce’s work even considered her their “work mom” because of how she was known to love those for whom she made friendships with as her own family.

Joyce loved the USWNT, long walks on the beach, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, chocolate-covered cherries, her husband Mark’s endless repertoire of useless facts, playing board games until the sun came up, laughter, family beach trips, her daughter Amanda’s thoughtfulness and benevolence, hiking in the desert, the smell of coffee (but not the taste), the Minnesota Vikings, yellow paint-stained sweatpants, Joan Jett, generosity, getting lost in Kanawha State Forest, her daughter Allie’s creativity and love for children, mango White Claws, her grandkittens, the Pinterest humor page, hot tea, spoon candy, dogs playing fetch, million-dollar bacon from First Watch, nursery rhymes, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, her daughter Ashley’s razor sharp wit, underdogs, funny passwords, Whose Line Is It Anyways, banana nut bread, Kesha, her son-in-law Joe’s handiness and sense of humor, oversized sweatshirts, Secret Santa shopping, making dandelion wishes, denim jackets, Las Vegas casinos, German chocolate cake, SNL’s Back Home Ballers, making-up silly songs, riding bikes, sleepovers with her grandbabies, taking photographs, Young Sheldon, baseball caps, watching TikToks, Manchester United, doing the right thing, afternoon naps, Christine Jacobs and their “bad girls club” i.e, eating late-night snacks and sweets, evening strolls, not answering her cellphone, kids birthday parties, potato soup, and never giving up.

Joyce will be remembered by all those she’s encountered for her vibrant spirit and the joy she emanated

around others. She will be desperately missed by all those that she’s left behind.

Love you, mean it, jelly bean it.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.tylermountainfuneralhome.com