Joyce Ann Harris of Orlando, Florida passed away on May 24, 2019 at the age of 78.
Joyce was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina on March 31, 1941 to Ella L. Moore and John F. Smith. She earned her high school diploma from Newbold High School in Lincolnton, North Carolina in 1958, and continued on to graduate from Kate Bitting Nursing School in Winston Salem, North Carolina to become a registered nurse. After graduation she relocated to Washington, D.C., where she pursued her career in nursing, met and married Dugger Harris on June 5, 1972, and 2 years later, had her daughter, Lisa Diane (Harris) Reid.
For nearly 40 years, Joyce dedicated her life to pediatric nursing. She developed a passion for serving others first and displaying quiet grace in all of her work. After retirement she became a snowbird making her home between Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Florida, enjoying her family, taking long walks, making peach and strawberry jam, celebrating life, and connecting with others.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Dugger Harris; father, John Franklin Smith; her mother, Ella Moore; and her brother, Larry Moore.
She is survived by her daughter, Lisa D. (Timothy) Reid; grandchildren, Timothy Joel Reid Jr., Maya Joyceann Reid, Shakira Coleman, Mikayla Harris, Tymeesha Williams, and Tianna Reid; step-daughters, Deborah Harris, Deidre Harris; siblings, David Moore, Marshall Moore, Margaret Gibbs, and Harvetta Fuller; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, Joyce's family has requested that donations in memory of Joyce be made to the Alzheimer's Support Group Ministry of First Baptist of Orlando, who provides valuable resources to families in crisis and desperate need of support.
Alzheimer's Support Group Ministry
c/o First Baptist Church of Orlando
3000 South John Young Parkway
Orlando, FL 32805
A memorial service will be held in the Henry Chapel of the First Baptist Church of Orlando on June 22, 2019 at 11:00am.