Joyce P. Houston
Joyce Peele Houston, 82, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, just 3 weeks shy of her 83rd birthday.
Joyce was born in Washington, NC. Her family relocated to Florida in the early 1950’s and she was a 1960 graduate of Hillsborough High School. She then moved to Virginia, beginning employment as an information operator with the C&P telephone company in 1962 and remained with them until her retirement in 1992 (Verizon). Upon retirement, she became a companion caregiver, for several years. She then became a full-time nanny for several different families in Poquoson and as the children in her care grew up and graduated, she went back to companion caregiving. She had a natural gift for caregiving and did everything she could to make those she was caring for feel safe and loved. She was an avid card player and spent many happy hours playing cards with her friends. She was a longtime member of Living Word Family Church in Yorktown, VA and considered everyone there as family.
Joyce was a woman who was devoted to her family and had a knack for knowing who to give time to when it was most needed. She was able to provoke uncomfortable thought processes to enable those she loved to get on or stay on the right track. She always tried to appear like she wasn’t trying to tell you what to do, while telling you what you should or shouldn’t do. She was very sensitive while seemingly hard at the same time. She loved her peeps and dealt with all kinds of issues willingly! She wasn’t afraid to hurt your feelings while acting like she was trying not to. Her loyalty and faithfulness were absolutely genuine in every aspect. She was very territorial about her people and showed up for any occasion that merited it. She was a woman who loved God and trusted Him in all things though we are sure she gave Him her opinion on more than one occasion! She was YaiYai to all of us, good, bad or otherwise, she was revered by her peeps!
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, 4 siblings and many special friends. She is survived by two sons, Chris R. Chrismon (Michelle) and Jason W. Houston (Jo); two stepsons, Tommy W. Houston (Susan) and Chance D. Houston. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Tyler Houston (Megan), Ben Chrismon (Michelle) Rebekah Chrismon, Kirsten Houston, Tessa Mounts, Jack and Spencer Houston, Julia and Colin Houston; 7 great-grandchildren, Lilley, Skyla, Hailey, Brooklyn, Sylas, Kensley, Kameron, and many nieces, nephews and very special friends.
With grateful hearts, we extend our sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of Mary Immaculate Hospital. Your kindness, care and compassion made this difficult time bearable, we will never forget all you did to help us get Joyce through these last few days.
The family will receive friends from 6-7 pm on Monday at Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, with a Celebration of Life following at 7 pm in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Joyce to the National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org.
