Joyce Stevens Waite passed away peacefully in her home on January 10, 2020 at the age of 86. Born the seventh of nine children to Burton and Lolete Pistole Stevens in Daphne, Al., Joyce grew up in Midtown Mobile, spending most of her summers in Fairhope and Point Clear. She attended Old Shell Road and Woodcock Elementary Schools and graduated in 1950 from Murphy High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Jack Waite, in 1951. The couple then lived in Sanford, Florida where Jack was stationed in the Navy and afterwards graduated from nearby Stetson College. The couple moved back to Mobile in 1957 where they welcomed their first child, AJ "Buddy". He was followed three years later by a sister, Laurie and two years after that with a brother, Jimmy. The young family then moved to Laurel, Ms. in 1968 and a year later welcomed their fourth and final child, a son, Billy. Joyce learned to play Bridge in Laurel and was an avid player for the rest of her life. She also made many lifelong friends in Laurel. The family later moved to Natchez, Ms. in 1977 where Jack died in 1983. Joyce returned to Mobile that same year where she spent the remainder of her life. She retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1997. Christ United Methodist Church was an important part of Joyce's life in her later years. She joined the church in 2003 and was an active and loyal member the rest of her life. She volunteered at the church as her health allowed and enjoyed her years at the Recreation Desk. She enjoyed entertaining her large group of friends. She was a member of a local Red Hat Society as well as local bridge clubs but primarily she was everything to her large and diverse family. Her devotion to her family is her legacy. She was director, communicator, facilitator, organizer and chief cook. She cannot be replaced and she will be greatly missed by all. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Burton and Lolete Stevens, her husband of 32 years, Jack Waite; sister Lolete "Tiny" Stevens; sister Mabel Leslie; brother Berton "Bert" Stevens; sister Jane Bell and brother Roderick "Rod" Stevens. She is survived by her four children, son AJ, "Buddy" Waite (Debbie), daughter Laurie Roebuck (Lloyd), sons James "Jimmy" and William "Billy" Waite, four beloved grandchildren; Jackson Taylor, Elizabeth Roebuck, Samantha Christopher (Ben) and Jessica Waite and two great grandchildren, Kate and Audrey Christopher, Sister Dorothy "Dot" Gandy, brother William "Bill" Stevens (Martha), all of Mobile and Sister Gloria Thompson (Joe) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, beloved cousins A.P. and Merla Greer of Winfield, Kansas, many beloved nieces and nephews as well as her loyal dog Cody. A visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 on Wednesday, January 15th, at Christ United Methodist Church on Grelot Road in Mobile with a funeral service immediately following at 2 pm. Burial service will be held at Pinecrest Cemetery on Dauphin Island Parkway following the funeral service. The family will hold a reception and dinner celebrating Joyce's life after the burial from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Radney Funeral home on Dauphin Street. The family would like to thank Saad's Hospice and Dr. Thomas Butler of the Mitchell Cancer Institute for their excellent and compassionate care and would like to especially thank Joyce's caregiver, Mamie Dickerson, and Carol and Rob Hackbarth for their years of tremendous support to Joyce and the family. We are eternally grateful. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or Christ United Methodist Church, 6101 Grelot Road, Mobile, AL 36609.
