Constance Joyce Campbell

Constance Joyce Campbell, age 74, of Gahanna, Ohio, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on July 31, 1950, in Petersburg, Virginia, she was the beloved daughter (and firstborn) of the late Lloyd and Gloria (Link) Campbell.

Family Background

Constance, affectionately known as “Connie” or “Aunt Connie,” is survived by her younger brother Lloyd (Chandra) Campbell Jr., loved ones in Bowling Green, KY, loved ones in Jamaica, six (6) nieces and nephews, and twelve (12) great nieces and nephews. Connie grew up in New York & Kentucky and eventually made the move to Ohio in her later years. Connie, was truly a joy to her family and everyone that she met. She kept them on their toes and always laughing. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends, who cherish the beautiful memories they created together.

Personal Life

Connie loved everyone she met and greeted those closest to her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. She was born with Down Syndrome, but she never let that stop her from living a full life. She found work through Goodwill, as well as Learning Never Ends, in Kentucky & Ohio, for special people like her. She LOVED working and making her own money. One of her work positions allowed her to attend a Michael Jackson concert AND get backstage access. This began her love of Michael Jackson and her most famous story to relive. If you had the honor, pleasure, and privilege to know Connie then you undoubtedly have heard the stories about the day she met Michael Jackson.

Connie’s favorite hobbies included collecting dolls, coloring in her spare time, creating ceramics & art, crafting, dancing, going for a monthly mani/pedi. She absolutely loved choosing colors and designs for her nails, having a little sweet treat every night after dinner, sharing stories of her life with her nieces and nephews (BIGs and the greats), shopping for new clothes & jewelry, and watching her favorite DVDs and TV shows like Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, Prince’s Purple Rain, and Little House on the Prairie.

Connie not only loved collecting dolls; she gave each doll their own full name and she made sure that they had on outfits that suited their personalities. Every doll got a little TLC every day. She treasured her dolls so much.

Community Involvement

Connie spent decades working with Goodwill & Learning Never Ends for people with special needs. She made new friends literally everywhere she went and never encountered a stranger. Connie loved to help her supervisors and coworkers with tasks as needed. She also stood up to any injustice that she saw thanks to a strong upbringing by her mother: Gloria (Link) Campbell.

Legacy

Connie was “one of a kind” and kept us on our toes, laughing until we cried. When her nieces and nephews were younger, she loved to remind them that SHE was in charge and their auntie. She never lived her life as if she had a disability and she took so much pride in being able to do things for herself. She never let anyone treat her as if she was different and it was a wonderful thing to witness.

Every time she told the story of meeting Michael Jackson to new in-laws and close friends of the family, it was so funny watching their jaws drop and look at us for confirmation, to which we would all nod our heads in agreement to her stories. No one can top, “I got to meet Michael Jackson” as an opener when meeting new people.

How do you define someone who was one of a kind?! Connie was sassy and sweet; confident yet humble; able to stand her ground without fear; could roast you and/or give you the sweetest compliment - depending on her mood; very helpful when it was beneficial and able to recall the most vivid of details at any given moment.

Constance filled the world and our lives with her own unique joy. Being able to put into words how much she meant to us and how deeply she will be missed by those that loved her is an incredibly hard task. Connie is… was… an unforgettable presence in our lives and we are so grateful for the years we were BLESSED to have her with us on Earth. May the Lord guide her soul home where she may rest peacefully with her parents and those we have loved and lost along this journey.

A memorial service will be held on November 8th at 12:00 PM at Schoedinger Northeast, located at 1051 East Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, Ohio 43230. Friends and family are invited to join in honoring her life and sharing their memories.