Herbert "Bro" Joyner Jr.

Herbert 'Bro' Joyner, Jr. 81, died Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Guardian Care Nursing Home. He was born May 14,1929 in Rocky Mount, N.C, from the union of Herbert Joyner, Sr. and Rosa Ricks Joyner. His mother died when he was only two years old. He was raised in a Christian home by his father and his grandmother the late Hattie Joyner.
He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1947. After having served in the U. S. Army he returned home and continued his education. He attended Elizabeth City State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. He was the first in his family to earn a degree in higher education.
Bro Herbert was an active member in church since his early childhood. He was baptized at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served as a Trustee and was a Sunday School teacher. In his later years he joined Hickory View Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully as an Usher, and he was also on the Finance Committee until the time of his illness. He faithfully served the Lord and enjoyed the pleasant times spent with family and friends.
He was a teacher with the Nash County School System where he spent more than 30 years in the classroom and later as a driver's education teacher. He was also a Precinct Judge for the Nash County Board of Elections. Herbert was a person who had various jobs throughout his life. He was a member of the N.C. Chapter of Elizabeth City State University's Alumni Association. He was also a past president of the North Carolina Chapter of the B.T. W. Alumni Association for several years.
He was very involved in the community and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Herbert was united in Holy matrimony to the late Marion Ophelia Debnam Joyner.
This union was blessed with five children, Rudy Joyner (Idexter) of Rocky Mount, N.C., Janie Blackman of Upper Marlboro, MD, Denise Westray (Rudolph) of Washington, D.C., Kathryn Joyner and Herbert Joyner, III of Rocky Mount, N.C. He had three grandchildren Jessmin Evans, Montevius Joyner, and Qiana Blackman who preceded him in death. Two step-grandsons Terrell and Paris Cheeks and one god-granddaughter, Noelle Blackwell.
He is survived by two sisters, Grace Catherine Bussey of Washington, D.C. , Sharon Joyner of Rocky Mount N.C. and one brother Gregory "Buck" Joyner of Washington, D.C., three aunts Ms. Estelle Roundtree, Effie Edge of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Ada Small of Newark, N.J. , one sister-in-law, Ruth Sumner of Newport News, VA, and two brothers-in-law, Zeb Sumner and Lorenzo P. Barrett of Washington, D.C. one special friend, Ms. Bessie Tyson of Rocky Mount, N.C., and a host of other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A viewing will be held Friday, July 30, 2010 at Stokes Mortuary from 3:00-7:00 p.m. The service to remember Herbert will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Hickory View Baptist Church, 3911 Bulluck School Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27801,Reverend Leonard B. Thompson officiating. Entombment will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Arrangements by Stokes Mortuary, Inc., 207 Albemarle Ave., Rocky Mount, N.C.