Suzanne S. Joyner

Suzanne S. Joyner, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, in her hometown of Hampton, Virginia. Born on April 6, 1944, in Hampton, Suzanne lived a full and vibrant life, reaching the age of 81. Her Family were early settlers in VA, Colonists arriving to Jamestown and Westmoreland Counties.

Suzanne was a retired ballroom dance instructor and the proud owner of the Douglas High Dance Studio in Hampton for many years. Her passion for dance was evident to all who knew her, and she often expressed how much she loved what she did for a living. She often stated she never worked a day in her life. She loved to teach ballroom dancing, it was her passion. An accomplished dancer and instructor, Suzanne shared her love of dance with countless students over the years, leaving a lasting impact on the community. Dance also brought the opportunity to use her talents crafting exquisite, handmade custom dance dresses for competitions. Extremely talented and hard working. Suzanne became an Entrepreneur prior to finding her way into dance, opening and operating sewing centers in Newport News and Hampton for many years.

In addition to her career, Suzanne recently found joy in singing, adding another layer to her artistic spirit. Her love for music and dance was a testament to her lively and creative nature. She was one of a kind, bold and brave, and she will be missed.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, Billy P. Joyner; her infant son, Douglas P. Joyner; her grandson, Richard S. Hoag; her mother, Margaret O'Connell; her father, Quentin E. Scott; and her sister, Nancy Kernodle.

She is survived by her loving children: William Joyner and his wife Melissa, Robert Joyner and his wife Margaret, and Kelly Cofield and her husband Jason. Suzanne also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Amanda Fila and her husband Brian, Crystal Lewis and her husband Alex, Jaela Joyner, Olivia Joyner, Jackson Joyner, and Tyler Joyner. Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren: Zoey Lewis, Amelia Lewis, Juniper Lewis, Patrick Lewis, Luke Fila, and Nick Fila.

Suzanne is also survived by her sisters, Darla Powell and Kathleen Jones, her brother, Doug Scott, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and many dear friends who will miss her dearly.

A celebration of Suzanne's life will be held at a future date, where family and friends will gather to honor her memory and the joy she brought to so many.