Joyce Wright

PORTSMOUTH-Joyce Wright, 96, died peacefully at Beth Sholom Village on Monday October 2, 2023.

Born in Portsmouth in 1927, she was a child of the Great Depression and part of the Greatest Generation of World War II. She is preceded in death by her parents, Avanelle and William K. Rudolph Taylor, stepfather William E. McClennan, brother Wayne Taylor, husband, Earl M. Wright, and her daughter, Pam.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon, of Medford, Massachusetts as well as a nephew and nieces in Lafayette, Louisiana and cousins, Carol Boone of Portsmouth, Carole Jeffries of Florida, and Arthur Caffee of Roanoke.

A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, she was a member of Prentis Park Presbyterian Church and later First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth. Along with her church, Joyce supported the H.E.R. Shelter and other organizations for people without homes in addition to various animal welfare and rescue organizations.

Her home in Park Manor for 71 years was the foundation of her life. She enjoyed the longtime friendship of neighbors as she raised her family and became a widow over 50 years ago. She loved working in her yard and watching all of the creatures in her backyard wildlife sanctuary. She retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Administrative Assistant in Production Engineering and Training Division) over 30 years ago. She settled into a long retirement that included traveling, doll-making and collecting, gardening, and over the years, making a home for many stray cats, including Tommy Terrific and Sunshine, who had the good fortune to wander into her backyard to peruse her bird feeders.

Her family expresses deep gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Beth Sholom Village (now MHC) in Virginia Beach and Suncrest Hospice for the wonderful care she received. We would also like to give a shoutout to the residents of the Blue Unit there who filled her days with company and laughter at her jokes. You uplifted the last part of her life.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be no memorial service. Her hope was that in lieu of a service, people wishing to remember her would "take the day off and do something you want to do with it." Instead of flowers, she asked that people make a donation to the charity of their choice.

The family is being assisted by Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd Chapel. Condolences may be left at www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com