Joyce Cleaver, 97, died Monday January 22, 2024 at 4:11 am at Mayo Hospice Care Center after a short illness. She was the wife of the late LCRD Stephen Cleaver, U.S. Navy (Ret) for 54 years. Joyce was born in Tynemouth, North Shields, Great Britain in 1926. After completing school and secretarial school, she joined the Royal Navy and spent 4 years in the Navy before she met Stephen. They got married in 1948 and Joyce followed Steve in the Navy for 30 years. Joyce raised two children, loved to play bridge, loved water aerobics in Fernandina, and volunteered for Navy Relief, Barnabas and other worthwhile charities.
Survivors include her children Susan Smith of Jacksonville, Florida and Chris (Mary K) Cleaver of Williamsburg, Virginia; and four grandchildren.
Because Joyce was 97, she outlived most of her friends. As such, a service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, where she will be buried with her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made at Barnabas Center, 11 S 11th St., Fernandina Beach FL 32034, or the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Study, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224.
