Joy Stevens' Obituary
Joy Stevens died Tuesday February 13, 2018 at her apartment in Kirby Pines. She was born Joy Marie Haynes on July 14, 1926. She married B. Stevens on December 2, 1947. She and Dad had three boys, Haynes, Cleve, and Clayton. Married life for Mom and Dad began very poor. Mom used to say they didn’t have two nickels to rub together. Their one old car got repossessed many times, once as she was backing out the driveway with me and my brothers in the car. Another time, Mom had to rip open our bean bags to have something to cook. It was tough going at first but got much better. They sacrificed everything for us. They bought a house with a three acre yard so my brothers and I could have a kids paradise… tree houses, rope swings, dogs and other critters, a softball field in summer and a football field in the fall. Eventually even a pool, but my Mom couldn’t swim. No doubt she would have jumped in anyway if we were in trouble. She was that devoted to us. Mom and Dad gave to us the childhood every kid deserves… a happy one! If there was anything we didn’t have we never missed it because we had lots of laughter and love… and the occasional fight. When you have 3 boys, that’s to be expected. Joy was a tiny Irish woman with red hair that matched her personality… fiery , fierce , and someone you wanted on your side when your back was to the wall. Never more than a 100 lbs. when wet and never quite 5 ft. tall. Yet , she was a force to be reckoned with. She kept her boys in line along with anyone else’s kid! We lost my brother Clayton when he was 19. Joy went into a deep depression but with great strength and faith pulled herself out of it and found great comfort for years working with an organization for parents who have lost children. For many years she was on call 24/7 to counsel other newly grieving mothers and help them with their loss. Some of these mothers became lifelong friends. Then Joy lost her husband of more than 60 yrs. about 7 yrs. ago. Joy was known as Nanny to her grand kids… Skyler, Chelsea, Lane, and Jake and her step grandsons Russel and Jordan and to her honorary daughter, Kay and her daughter in law, Laurie. No way you can ever sum up nearly 92 yrs. of life in one column. She was tiny and tough when need be. A temper if provoked but as sweet as a slice of pie too. She was a lot of lady rolled up into a small ball of spit and grit. She was also a very devout Catholic. She wasn’t perfect but God never makes any who are. You did real good Mom! Now go rest, you deserve it, and tell Dad and Clayton my brother and I said HI. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and funeral services will follow at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 20 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Instead of flowers, Joy would prefer small donations to the Clayton Stevens Memorial Fund, St. John’s Church, 416 So. 5th Street, Oxford, MS 38655. The fund helps the poor and needy in that area.Joy Stevens’ Tribute Slideshow may be viewed here: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/P7F8HWR9PRFQQQTF
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