Joyce Torrence

Q: How did you meet Joyce?

A: I met Joyce at a time in my life when I needed a friend. She became my landlord and my friend. I was a young struggling mother with very little money and she gave me a chance to make a home for me and my daughter. Joyce and I had some really good times together and I will never forget her as and the fun loving and kind person that she was. Rest on my dear. Gone but never forgotten🌹😘

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father. Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those
Granny
Who trespass against us. And lead us not into Temptation,
But deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, The power and the Glory For ever and ever.
Amen.
It was really sad when my granny died and everyone was crying. When the hospital nurse said that there was nothing they could do, so we had to unplug the oxygen tank. This day made me feel extremely sad but hay, we’re all gonna be gone sometime. A lesson you should have learned from this story is, spend as much time with your loved ones because you never no when they can go.
Rest In Peace Granny
Mothers
By Cheryl Torrence
Originally Written in 2003 for Mother’s Day “Dedicated and inspired by Mom, Joyce Cecilia”
– Damont Carson, Jr.
Mothers give of themselves unconditionally…
Mothers handle a variety of responsibilities with skill and nurture…
Genuine concern given from Mom gives the family joy…
Mothers design unique moments that saturate the home with happiness… Mothers help make home a safe haven where life troubles can’t enter…
Truly, Mothers create memories that bring warmth to her children’s hearts and others she encounters that lasts a lifetime…
One day can’t accommodate all that Mothers deserve…
However, this expression of love, sends gratitude, love, and appreciation… Thank you for being you…
You are a Genuine Mother that’s authentic,
All the money in the world can’t pay for all you do…
Keep on being you…You’re Priceless!!!
Mother in Heaven Dedicated by daughter Kathy Johnson
If Roses grow in Heaven Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mother’s arms and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her that I love her and miss her, and when she turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy, I do it every day,
But there’s an ache within my heart that will never go away!

Celebration of Life for Joyce Cecilia Torrence

In 1937, Preston and Ophelia Bowers (Hansberry – Ophelia’s maiden name) welcomed a new bundle of joy, Joyce Cecilia, to the world on her mother Ophelia’s birthday August 30th, in Mobile, Alabama. Their already grow- ing family consisted of three older living siblings: Feist, Douglas, and Jean. Years later, her brother David arrived into the family. Joyce Cecilia’s family embodied a rich heritage in which the Hansberry men owned big farms and raised crops to feed people in the town in which they lived. They were bless- ed to never pick cotton and be entrepreneurs who owned barbershops, shoe stores (cobblers), and merchant marines.
Joyce Cecilia experienced the loss of her father, Preston, in her adolescent years yet her mother Ophelia and her brother Henry A. Hansberry remained in Mobile to raise their families. However, they had to sue Mobile, AL for taking their land. They won the lawsuit and sometime after Henry mysteri- ously died. Ophelia felt it wasn’t safe for her and her children any longer in Mobile, so they traveled to Detroit, MI. After some time, she began courting Herman Luther. Ophelia married Herman Luther and to this union, Doro- thy, Herman Jr, and Johnny were born.
Joyce Cecilia was raised as a devout Christian and was sent to Catholic schools for earlier education. Joyce developed a great love for reading books, dance, and using her athleticism. Back then, there wasn’t a lot of opportuni- ties for women to develop their athleticism, so Joyce Cecilia used her athleti- cism in the neighborhood running and playing various sports with the guys.
Joyce Cecilia and her quite large family always had family dinners com- prising of positive mindsets for education that impacted her in attendance at Pershing High in Detroit. Joyce Cecilia enjoyed seeing many of the Motown band members from Four Tops and The Temptations at Pershing and de- veloped a desire to work at Motown. However, she changed her mind about pursuing that career move due to her own shyness yet thought provoking reflection about drugs being on the rise in the high schools in 1950’s. Joyce Cecilia witnessing two smart girls in her high school die from drug abuse heightened her wisdom to not interact with drugs and these events would later propel her pursuit of a nursing career in her 40’s.
After graduation, Joyce Cecilia would experience some very challenging times with racial barriers with her eldest, Steven “Steve”, son’s father that sep- arated her from that family. Joyce Cecilia’s love from her own family allowed her to keep moving forward. To embrace the curveballs of life, she devel- oped and embraced certain philosophical thoughts that helped her endure and press pass painful situations including, “she is 99 9/10th perfect but the 1/10th will get her into a lot of trouble,” “handle people with a long handle wooden spoon,” do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all” (although that’s 1/10th that got her into trouble sometimes lol), and “don’t keep your face like that” (frowning a lot).
As time moved on, Joyce Cecilia was joined in holy matrimony to Dennis Coon and to their union, Veronica “Kim” & Kathryn “Kathy,” were born and loved by all. As time went on, Dennis and Joyce had irreconcilable differ- ences. She then persevered as a single parent taking care of her children and supporting her siblings and their children.
Joyce Cecilia pioneered the first movements of home ownership among her siblings in Detroit, MI and established a good working foundation where she eventually worked at the US Post Office. This ever-growing family unit would continue to thrive and all of them learned how to gravitate to each other during civil rights movement while encoun- tering the raids and tanks driving down their streets, and survive. Joyce Cecilia even managed how to do adventurous things for herself outside of Michigan like exploring other countries’ beautiful scenery and cuisine. She developed a love for coffee and desserts (especially lemon meringue pie and strawberry like strawberry shortcake).
Joyce Cecilia later met Milton Torrence and moved to Stephens, AR and learned how to live in the country and receive additional love from the Torrence/Turner family before moving back to Detroit. Sometime after, Cheryl was born and they were married. Joyce Cecilia and Milton relocated to Milwaukee, WI and adding lovely additions from Milton to her family, she created close bonds with Cedric, Yolanda “Yogi”, Milton Jr., Marvette “Sherry,” Kenya, and their Mom, Deloise. Joyce Cecilia and Milton were blessed with Michael thereafter. Yes, Milwaukee would become Joyce Cecilia’s permanent residency where she’d impact many people in the community by being Mom in her village, mentor-an inspiration to others to pursue their dreams, and spearheaded various family lake and park outings, birth- day parties, and taking her family to Walt Disney World.
Joyce Cecilia’s resiliency and visionary capabilities allowed her to prepare her family for success by going back to school in her 40’s to become an LPN. She received her practical nursing certification on December 21, 1981. She es- tablished a legacy in the medical field through her daughter Kathryn in medical billing and reimbursement medical representative; granddaughters, Mikayla being a traveling CNA, Stephanie, worked as a CNA, and Cheri’A striving to become a Physician Assistant; and great granddaughters Jasmine being a CNA and Arissa pursuing a career in the medical field.
Joyce Cecilia’s athletic legacy is passed down to her children, grands, and great grands winning city, state, and na- tional events in track, volleyball, soccer, football, and basketball as well as receiving collegiate scholarships in those same areas as well. Her legacy even extends to her grandson, Taurus II, playing basketball internationally in Argentina. Many did not know that in her 50’s, Joyce Cecilia was still playing softball — hitting homeruns, sliding into bases, and catching various fly balls in the field.
Although later years would challenge Joyce Cecilia’s health and break her body down, she still managed to beat life threatening food poisoning that led to lifelong colitis issues and other ailments. She even had a bout with lung cancer in her 60’s that she decided to fight aggressively. A secret prayer between God and Cheryl along with Joyce’s prayers extended her life. Joyce Cecilia continued to have strong will power to live life and was the last remaining living de- scendant of her generation in 2019. Joyce Cecilia would continue to press on to see her family grow and experience a lifetime dream that she read about in books and saw on TV of visiting New York in 2019 before seeing her grandson Taurus II play in Connecticut for college.
Joyce Cecilia affectionately known as Mama, Joyce, JT, Mommy, & Grandma peacefully began dancing with the angels on November 6, 2022. She transitioned with her daughter, Kathy, by her side saying, “The Lord’s Prayer.” She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, son, Steven, daughter, Marvette “Sherry,” & great grandson, Caleb.
Joyce Cecilia leaves behind her smile, her charisma, wits, her love of reading, and excitement to dance as well as being cherished by her children: Kim, Kathy, Cedric (Rachel), Yogi (Christopher), Milton Jr (Sonya), Kenya (Damont Sr), Cheryl, & Michael; Grandchildren: Stephanie, Keith, Ladina, Mikayla, Michael Johnson Jr, Taurus II, Cheri’A, Mi- chael Torrence Jr, Nathan, Savannah, and Damont Jr; Great Grands: Jasmine, Desmond, Arissa, Kenneth, Laila, J’Kari, Keion, David, Noah, Chrissie, K’Myla, My’el, Rah’el, Dwayne III, J’Kobe, and London; Great-great grands: Steven, Jai’Cee, & Destinee; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, & extended family: Alabama, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, California, Nevada & Florida. Lastly, Joyce Cecilia had lovely caretakers outside of family members that included Ja- nette, Tiffany, both Rebekahs, Brenda, and Mom Deane’Re.

More memories with Joyce Cecilia

Great times …

Grandma never hesitated to ask me for help to the bathroom, love you little lady 🙂

Condolences to the Torrence family my sincerce From Dana Collins and family

Gone, but never forgotten. Joyce if you could hear me now, these are the words I would speak to you. Memories…. ‘ All of the times we spend together as mother’s between our children. I appreciate all of the many small talks and sometimes, they were heavy talks concerning our love ones. But through it all, we made it. Remembered, that children didn’t come with instructions. But I know we did our best!’ So we shared much and I will miss you when I come to visit, but my love is still strong for you and your family. RIP Joyce

With deepest sympathy and love, Aunt Joyce will always be in our hearts.

As the days gets closer. I just want you to know Mommy. I am trying to stay strong. You was a fighter. And that’s where I get my strength from. Just know that these last months we spend together will forever be in my heart. That Sunday was the greatest gift you gave me . Just you and me. GOD knew our love for each other was greater than anything. As we look into each eyes as we kiss. He took you in peace and I have no doubt that you are his again. Heavenly resting in peace.

Grams I don’t have many pictures of you ,, but plenty of us in my heart . you were such a fighter , strong little lady , until we meet again . I love you and forever miss you !

i love you grandma, and will forever miss you. see you later my beautiful lady ❤️

Mom dream trip to New York – she read about it and seen it on TV but got to see if before traveling to Connecticut to see grandson, Taurus, collegiate basketball game for Southern Connecticut

Q: What did Joyce like to do in their free time?

A: She loved to read and dance❣️

Q: What was one of your favorite qualities of Joyce?

A: One of the favorite qualities for my Mom is that she had a lot of will power – stayed strong to the last breath. Mommy you are loved more than you know – infinity and beyond❣️ ~ Cheryl Joyce Torrence