Joyce Davis Lewis

Joyce Davis Lewis, who lived most of her life in Arlington, Virginia, peacefully passed away on December 3, 2025 in Columbus, OH. She was born on August 13, 1941 in Washington DC to Harry Edward and Alice May (Swick) Davis.

Joyce grew up in Suitland, MD, and graduated from George Washington University where she met her husband Alan Mead Lewis at a sorority party.

Joyce was a life-long lover of books and poetry. She worked as a librarian in the Arlington and Fall Church Library systems. Joyce took special joy in her work as a Young Adult Librarian. She learned a special love for the poetry of Emily Dickenson from her Grandmother Swick.

There is no Frigate like a Book (1286)

By Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul –

She was a long-time member of Bethel Church in Arlington. Her love of books included a deep love of Bible Study and early Christian history. Her deep connection with children was reflected in her many years as Sunday School teacher.

Joyce was universally kind and welcoming, taking up conversations easily with strangers as she went about her life. She often quoted the Quaker teacher George Fox who said, “Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone”. She was a special friend and champion of dogs and all small children.

She loved adventures both large and small, and enjoyed visiting many local attractions such as the Shenandoah Valley, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as places further afield such as New Mexico, and Wales.

Joyce is survived by her son, Matthew Alan Lewis of Arlington, by her daughter, Amanda May Haseley, and Amanda’s husband John Haseley of Athens, Ohio. She is also survived by a grandson, Jack H. Haseley, and by Jack's wife Sierra Haseley and a granddaughter, Annie Haseley. Joyce was blessed in the last two years with 2 beautiful great-grandchildren, Levi Davis Haseley and Magnolia (Maggie) Rae Haseley. 

In addition, Joyce is survived by her brother Stephen H. Davis and his wife Diane Peterson of Arlington, VA, and her sister Brenda Rogers of Chelmsford, MA, and nieces Dora Dee Rogers and Allison Rogers as well as her dear friends Jack Lane and granddaughter Margaret, with whom she spent many happy hours.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Alan M. Lewis, and her brother Martin E. Davis.

Visiting hours will be Dec 13 from 1 to 2:30 at Murphy’s Funeral Home at 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church VA 22046 immediately followed by a memorial service at 2:30.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Reading is Fundamental or the ASPCA in Joyce’s memory.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to all the staff at the Harrison on Fifth Senior Center in Columbus Ohio for their compassionate, cheerful and kind support and care of Joyce in the last year and a half of her life.

Joyce will be remembered with deepest love and gratitude and affection by the many people whose lives she touched.

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Late Fragment

by Raymond Carver

And did you get what

you wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself

beloved on the earth.