Joyce Ann Davis Ballard was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She
answered God's call for additional beauty to his garden  on Thursday November 6, 2025 at
the age of 84. Born on December 7, 1940 in Louisburg, NC, Joyce was the third of four children and the
only daughter of Tessie and Lucy Hawkins Davis. She attended Louisburg Training School
where she immediately showed a gift for academics. Upon her graduation with honors, she
attended St. Augustine's College in Raleigh. There she developed her talent to concentrate
on drama and the performing arts and acted in several school musicals. She graduated
there in 1963 with honors- she always strived for perfection. Notably, she was the 1963
Miss St. Augustine's College showing she was both talented and beautiful. She returned to
St. Augustine's on several occasions to homecoming where she was recognized with the
other queens. Always, she looked forward to attending when she got her invitations and
relished the opportunity to socialize with other alumnae.

Joyce was an active member of the Raleigh chapter of her beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority and this was always a source of great joy for her. She attended many conferences,
cotillions, and boules with her fellow sorors. After graduation from college, Joyce began her
teaching career at Conway H.S. in Raleigh, NC.  She taught there until 1971 when she
relocated to Newport News, Virginia and took a job teaching at Ferguson High School.
Joyce took on an avid role there in mentoring the students' performing arts and drama
clubs. Also, she taught AP English where she trained the most talented students. Many of
these students went on to college and became prominent members of the community who
remembered "Mrs. Ballard" fondly as a demanding but fair teacher who required their best.
She taught at Ferguson until 1998 when she transferred to Woodside High School. She
finished her teaching career in 1999 after a total teaching career spanning 35 years.

A wonderful singer herself, Joyce sang in several church choirs in the area. Along the way,
she met Maurice "Pete" Ballard, a local jazz musician. After a courtship. they married on
November 11,1972 and stayed married for 26 years until he passed on March 17, 1999. The
pair were destined to meet and love each other with their common interests in music and
literature. Joyce described Pete as "my everything and my whole world".
In addition to her parents and husband, Joyce was preceded in death by her 3 brothers-
Jesse, Wilson "Bee" and Walter Sam Davis.

Words cannot express how much her son and daughter-in-law, Daryl and Brenda Ballard,
sisters-in-law, Margaret Davis and Mary Belle Davis. her nieces, nephews, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends are going to miss her. Her generosity
and love have changed many peoples' lives and her absence leaves a void in us all.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel, 1601-27th Street, Newport News, Va. 23607.