Joyce M. Davis's Obituary (2024)

Obituary For Joyce M. Davis

On April 10 th , 1950, Joyce McMahan Davis was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina to the late Charlie McMahan Jr. and Linnie V. Kelly McMahan, who preceded her in death. Joyce loved people and will always be remembered as a staple throughout South Carolina and her local community for her dedication to educating the youth of the state, her commitment to the church she loved so much (New Prospect A.M.E. Zion Church), the sacrifices she made throughout her life for friends and family and most importantly, her love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Living a life of service, she held numerous positions professionally and within the church body of her local church as well as at the district and state level. Joyce’s life was a living testimony to who she was, a devoted Christian, a servant, a leader, an educator, a loyal daughter, sibling, wife, mother and friend.

Joyce was educated at Cumming Street Elementary and Junior High grades 1-9 and Carver Senior High grades 10-12, graduating in 1968. She attended Tuskegee University from 1968-1972, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She then received a Masters of Education, Elementary Education, Ed. Specialist from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Joyce also attended Nova Southeastern University’s Doctor of Education Program with a focus on Educational Leadership/Administration (incomplete by 6 hours).

Joyce’s diverse career impacted thousands of lives through the variety of roles she held. She taught 3 rd grade at Craig Air Force Base Elementary in Selma, Alabama, 4 th grade at St. Joseph Catholic School, Tuskegee, Alabama, 4 th and 5 th grades at Cowpens Elementary School, Cowpens, South Carolina, 4 th , 6 th , and 1 st grades at Mary H. Wright Elementary School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. That being a full career in itself, she then progressed her career by serving as Assistant Principal at Sims Junior High in Union, South Carolina, Assistant Principal at Foster Park Elementary in Union, South Carolina, Assistant Principal at Whitlock Junior High in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Assistant Principal at Cleveland Elementary, Spartanburg, South Carolina. With all those accomplishments she chose to take her career to the next level. She then went on to serve as the Principal at Foster Park Elementary, Union, South Carolina, Director of K-8 Instruction, Dorchester School District 4, St. George, South Carolina, Associate Superintendent for Elementary Education, Fairfield County School System, Winnsboro, South Carolina, Fairfield County School System, and finally she served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Instruction, Colleton County School District, Walterboro, South Carolina, before retiring from the state in June 2003. After a very brief period of retirement, she decided that retirement was not for her and went to work as an Instructional Assessor for the Greenville County School System. She then served as the State Liaison for the State Department of Education before finally serving as the Z.L. Madden Center Director at Piedmont Community Actions, Spartanburg, South Carolina, from 2009-2020.

As previously mentioned, Joyce held many roles locally with the A.M.E. Zion church including, but not limited to, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Deaconess, member of the Sanctuary Choir, Local President of the Parent Body of Women’s Health and Overseas Missionary Society as well as a Lay Council Member. At the district level she served as CED Director of Christian Education, District Lay Council as well as the District Women’s Home Overseas Missionary Society.

Joyce was married to Charles A. Davis, Sr., and had three children, Sonya, Charles II (Asmirh), and Jarvis (Adriane).

She leaves behind one sister, Sandra Floyd, and one brother, Donnie McMahan. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Jaylin, Aubrey, Jarvia, Sterling and Charles III.

She was preceded in death by: her sisters, Marilyn Oglesby and Charlene E. Young.

Joyce was a doer, not a talker, she embraced authentic relationships and loved spending time with loved ones. She will forever be remembered and will surely be missed.

Service will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Gardens, 2256 Cannons Campground Rd., Spartanburg, SC.

Omega Omega Rites will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. at The John Stinson Woodward Funeral Home.

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