Joyce Elaine DAVIS

1924 - 2014

DAVIS, Joyce Elaine (Stripling)

Joyce Elaine Stripling Davis went home to be with her Heavenly Father on May 8, 2014. For the past 2 1/2 years, she and her husband Phil have happily made their home at Greenridge at Buckner Villas in Austin, Texas.

Joyce was born February 18, 1924 in Howard County, Texas to Alta Estelle Hull and Leslie Dayton Stripling. She was older sister to Bettye King(deceased), Margaret Oliver(deceased), and Celia Young of Smithville, Texas.

At the age of 13 Joyce felt the call to become a doctor. She worked diligently toward that goal. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class in Crystal City, Texas, she attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She didn't understand why male classmates were being accepted at Baylor College of Medicine and she was not, in spite of her excellent academic record. Joyce took the trolley from Waco to Dallas to inquire of the dean why she hadn't yet been accepted. At that time, it was rare for women to be accepted into medical school because the prevailing wisdom was that they would abandon their medical careers as soon as they began a family. When the dean asked if she planned to marry and have a family, she assured him that she did but that she also intended to practice medicine. She met Phil Davis, classmate and future husband, in 1944 and married him in 1946, continuing with her medical career and beginning her family as well.

When Phil returned from the Korean War in 1953 they moved to Houston Texas where Joyce taught pathology at Baylor College of Medicine from 1956 until 1975. In 1975 Joyce accepted the post of chair of the department of Pathology at the new Texas A&M University College of Medicine. She served in that capacity until her retirement in 1990. She was honored as outstanding teacher of Pathology several years both at Baylor and TAMU, Outstanding Alumnus of Baylor University in 1984 and President of the Texas Society of Pathology in 1989.

Truly a renaissance woman, Joyce was a Bible scholar, a musician, an artist, a traveler, a seamstress, a knitter, a needlepointer, a Scrabble player and competitor in all things. She was a lifelong Baptist and taught Sunday School from the time she was 19 until she was 88 years old. At the time of her death, she was a member of First Baptist Austin.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years Phil; children Roger and wife Lynne of Waco, Texas; Diane of Lago Vista, Texas; Mark and wife Barby of San Angelo, Texas; daughter-in-law Denise of Waco, Texas; seven grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, multitudes of nieces and nephews and many friends both old and new. She was preceded in death by son Scott and sisters Bettye and Margaret.

Family graveside and burial was held at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas at 1 pm on Friday May 9, 2014. Arrangements were coordinated by Solace Eco-Friendly Funeral home of Austin. A celebration of Joyce's life will be held at Greenridge at Buckner Villas at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Baptist University of the Americas of San Antonio, Texas, My Baby and Me Maternity Home of Smithville, Texas or a charity of your choice.

The family appreciates the thoughts and prayers of friends and loved ones and the care of the doctors, nurses and staff at St. David's North Austin Medical Center and Hospice Austin.

Joyce wore many hats in her blessed life; daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, doctor, teacher, child of God, follower of Jesus and always in charge. In all things, give thanks!