Resident of the Month

Joyce is the daughter of Deaf parents, from whom she learned both Deaf culture and American Sign Language. From childhood, she interpreted for her parents and other Deaf in social and religious settings.
As a young wife and mother, Joyce experienced a calling from God to begin a Deaf ministry at her church. She answered yes and, thus, launched a lifelong ministry to the Deaf that would grow to encompass the entire United States, as well as numerous countries beyond.
For 66 years, until her retirement, Joyce led conferences, taught seminars, trained sign language interpreters, and started church ministries. She was in demand as an interpreter in classrooms, courtrooms, business offices, medical settings, church services, and at major events. For 16 of those years, she also wrote Bible lessons for the Deaf that were published nationwide.
Joyce’s natural talent is starting something new. For example, she taught the first courses in American Sign Language at Greenville Tech and opened the door for the first Deaf students to study there.
Joyce organized the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the certifying organization for sign language interpreters in South Carolina. She began, and served as the first President of, the South Carolina Baptist Conference for the Deaf. Joyce is also the founding Director of Tri-State Deaf School of Theology, the first-of-its-kind seminary for Deaf students in the United States.
In the fall of 2023, Governor Henry McMaster awarded her the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary service, contributions, and achievement on a national and statewide scale.
Joyce and her husband Olen, who passed away in 2021, have three children, two grandchildren and four great-granddaughters.