Joyce Howard Dickens

Joyce (Howard) Dickens, age 95, passed away in Theodore, AL on January 17, 2026.

Joyce was a strong and independent lady. She will be best remembered for her unconditional love of children. She opened her home to family and friends alike to mentor and provide a warm and loving atmosphere while the parents worked outside of their homes.

Joyce loved baking and decorating cakes for her family and friends. In her quiet time she enjoyed working crosswords and word puzzles in ink allowing no margin for error while keeping her mind sharp.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Dickens; her daughter, Charlotte Marie Crawford; her parents, Charles E. and Marie Howard; her brothers Charles C. Howard (Opal), Eugene Howard (Nell), Artis Howard (Yvonne), Bobby Howard (Wanda), Clarence Howard (Eunice), Curtis Howard (Mavis), and Joseph Howard; and sisters, Dolores H. Sweatt Wagner, Mary Catherine Howard, Hazel Howard, and Janice Stringfellow (Rex).

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Sam Dickens, Dianne (David) Turner, Pam Faucette, and Angela Duffy; grandchildren, Scott (Onisha) Dickens, Brian (Carmella) Dickens, David (Audrey) Turner II, Elisabeth (Daniel) Deel, Patricia (Jason) Hudson, Danielle (Aaron) Stark, Miles Crawford, Jennifer (Rico) Wroten, Christopher Cox, Anthony Cox, Preston Eubanks, Patrick Duffy and Grace Duffy; great grandchildren, Liam Dickens, Wright Turner, Luuk Turner, Oliver Deel, Vincent Deel, Jaxon Hudson, Savannah Hudson, Gage Hudson, Donyae Wroten, Cavle Wroten, Kyra Wroten, Xzavier Wroten, Jacob Stark and Madelyn Stark; great-great grandson, Khyree; brother, Earl Howard (Linda Kay); three sisters, Barbara Raybren (Jerry), Elaine Tillman (Roderick), and Marilyn Sessions (Mickey); and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family who will carry her memory in their hearts.

Visitation will be held at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until the graveside service at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow in Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery.Attending grandsons will serve as pallbearers and Rex Stringfellow to provide music for the services.