Joyce Aline Havard Hunter

Joyce Aline Havard Hunter of Mobile died on Thursday, December 28 at the age of 87. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” and her son, Christopher. She is survived by her four children Kymberlie Carroll (James), Randolph Hunter (Sarah), Edward Hunter (Tracy), and Jeffrey Hunter, her nine grandchildren Brad, Kristin, Blake (Paige), Aimee, Katherine (Adam), Ashton, William “Will”, Grace, and John, and her two great grandchildren, Sloane and Stella.

Joyce was born in George County, Mississippi in 1930 to Mattie Dorothy Goff Havard and Charles Thomas Havard. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Mississippi Southern College in 1953 and a Masters from South Alabama in 1975. Joyce and Bill fell in love in high school. After Bill returned from the Korean War and they finished college, they married and moved to Mobile; there they raised a family and became fixtures in the Springhill community. Joyce loved working with children and had a long career in education, as a teacher and a principal. During her tenure as principal at Maryvale school, the school was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School (1993-1994) and she was recognized as a National Distinguished Principal (1994). She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa honorary teaching organization and served as chapter president. After her retirement in 1998, she continued to work with children at her church through Sunday school, youth group, and vacation bible school. Joyce was an avid gardener and spent the last few years growing orchids, succulents, and tropicals on her porch. She loved cooking for her family and friends, writing poetry, playing bridge, reading, enjoying the sunlight on her porch, and staying fit with regular walks through Springhill.

The visitation will be Friday, December 29 from 4 to 7pm at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. The funeral will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 30, at 9 am, followed by a graveside service at Mobile Memorial Gardens at 11 am, and a reception at Westminster at 12 pm.

Joyce’s faith was an important part of her life and she was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for many years, an elder, and served as the Clerk of Session. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the church.

Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.