Carolyn Joyce Barksdale

Beloved mother and wife Carolyn Joyce Barksdale passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 26th, 2021 at age 87, after several years of battling severe health issues. She was a strong, intelligent person that could have excelled at any endeavor she chose, but she always put any personal aspirations aside to raise and care for her family.

She was born in 1934 in Bibb County, Alabama to Willie Mitchell and Grace (snipes) Mitchell. Her son Ron, sister Thelma and brother Glen have predeceased her, and she is survived by her husband Joe, her sons Randy, Jeff, Robin, her sister Sue, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

When she was 12, her family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama where she graduated from Tuscaloosa High. She wanted to go to college but could not afford it. During and after high school, she worked as a secretary to help support her family and continued to do so until she married Joe in 1955. He was attending the University of Alabama when they met. She was so instrumental in completing his thesis for his Master's in Geology that they both consider it "her" degree. Joyce, as she is commonly known, gave birth to their first child in 1957. They moved to Fontana, California in 1958 after Joe accepted a job at Kaiser Steel. In 1961 the family moved and made a home in Ontario, where she lived for 60 years until her passing.

Joyce was an avid reader and read her favorite book, 'Gone With The Wind', countless times. She loved "southern culture and hospitality" and enjoyed bringing a small part of it from Alabama to southern California. After her husband retired, Joyce began dealing in antiques and collectibles, first as a hobby, then as a business. In 1982 she opened a store called Calico Reflections. Under her management, the business thrived and became a fixture in historic downtown Upland, California for 18 years. She became the go-to person if you were buying or selling collectibles and wanted a fair deal. Though she loved her store and excelled at running it, in 2000 she closed the shop and retired from that business to take care of Joe and spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Until she passed, she looked back at her time with Calico Reflections with well-deserved pride and satisfaction.

As was her way, she always put those she loved above personal desires or needs. Her family will tremendously miss her, and they are all much lonelier today without her in their lives.

In lieu of flowers, please consider showing your support by making a donation in Joyce's name to Salem Christian Homes, 6921 Edison Ave. Chino, CA 91710 or online at https://www.salemchristianhomes.org/donate