Joyce Bernice was born to Jimmy and Willie Mae Thomas on March 11, 1929 in Paige, Texas. She confessed her love for Christ at an early age at Unity Friendship Baptist Church where she grew up in Paige, Texas. Years later, Joyce joined Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Joyce later attended Austin Community College where she learned to be a tax preparer. She also worked for Goodwill Industries and Atlanta Life Insurance Company selling life insurance and collecting premiums.
Joyce married Clarence Jimmy Cheeks in her late teens. From this union four children were born. She is preceded in death by one child, Gerry James Cheeks; as well as all of her siblings, and her mother and father.
She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Evelyn Bradley and her husband Maurice, of Marriottsville, Maryland, and Ellen Stiles of Austin, Texas; one son, Charles Robert Cheeks of Austin, Texas; 27 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
