Jocelyn I. Joshua

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October 27, 1948 – June 15, 2025
Joycelyn I. Joshua, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, peacefully entered eternal rest on June 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on October 27, 1948, in Basseterre, St. Kitts, to Irene Smithen and Moses, Joycelyn radiated joy from an early age. Known for her bright smile, contagious laughter, and deep compassion, she was a light to all who knew her. She received her early education at Irishtown School and graduated from Basseterre Senior High School. Her unwavering faith in God began at the age of 10 when she was baptized at the New Testament Church of God on Central Street in Basseterre.
After her mother relocated to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, in search of better opportunities, Joycelyn and her sister Elizabeth lived with their grandmother, Edna Hanley, in Nevis before reuniting with their mother in 1967. It was in St. Thomas that Joycelyn met the love of her life, Pastor Genevere Gladstone Joshua. They were married on April 11, 1970, and together they built a beautiful life filled with love, faith, and family, raising three children: Deborah, Diana, and Jonathan.
Joycelyn dedicated over 30 years to a distinguished career in the hospitality industry. She began as a switchboard operator at Pineapple Beach Hotel in Smith Bay and, through hard work and grace, rose to a management position. She witnessed and contributed to the hotel's growth through its transitions to Stouffer's, Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, and Grand Beach Resort. Her warmth and professionalism endeared her to both guests and colleagues, many of whom became lifelong friends, including the late Marilyn Boodoo and Ingrid Carter. She later worked at Windward Passage Hotel and, in 2010, was honored with the prestigious Hotel Associate of the Year Award at the USVI Hotel and Tourism Tommy Star Awards. She officially retired in 2017 following Hurricane Maria.
In March 2023, Joycelyn and her husband moved to New Jersey to access medical care. Even in this new chapter, she remained joyful, gracious, and deeply faithful. Her resilience and optimism were ever-present, often summed up in her signature phrase: "I don't feel better, but I don't feel worse either." She quickly became a favorite among hospital and rehabilitation staff, and continued to build meaningful connections wherever she went.
Joycelyn was preceded in death by her mother, Irene Thomas; father, Moses; and sisters, Bronty Miller and Elizabeth Thomas-Samuel. She leaves behind a legacy of love and faith in her devoted husband, Pastor Genevere Gladstone Joshua; her children, Deborah Joshua, Diana Joshua-Woods, and Jonathan Joshua; her son-in-law, Jelesmaire Woods Sr.; her cherished grandchildren, Zanata Joshua, Zekai Joshua, Jelesmaire Woods Jr., and Jade Woods; her sisters, Marilyn Frater Thomas and Lavida Thomas Conner; her brother, Edgar Hendrickson; special cousins, Imelda Freeman and Carmel Smithen; brother-in-law, Beaugeste Joshua; her many beloved nieces and nephews; and her dedicated caretakers, Charmaine Malcom and Mrs. Elba Christian.
Joycelyn lived a life defined by kindness, strength, generosity, and an unwavering faith in the Lord. Her impact will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.