Joyce Denise Matsumoto

Joyce Denise (Johnson) Matsumoto was born on December 14, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan. She was one of seven children and the oldest of two daughters to William Archie Johnson and the late Ethel Louise (Saunders) Johnson.

Joyce attended and graduated from college preparatory Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, class of 1977. She majored in the Secretarial curriculum and minored in Performing Arts, as she had a natural talent and love for performing. As different as those 2 areas of study were, Joyce found a way to incorporate both disciplines into her life. While attending Cass Technical High School, she earned her first semester of college credits; after high school, she attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Although she did not complete her college degree, she was fearlessly independent and used both her secretarial and performing arts skills to forge a path for herself at a young age to pursue her dreams. By age 20, Joyce had moved to San Francisco, California on her own. She worked as a legal secretary at a law firm and continued on that career path until she decided to move to Japan and join a rock band. It was there that she met her future husband Tomoki Matsumoto and later gave birth to her first-born son Kenji. After having Kenji, Joyce returned to the United States. She eventually moved back to San Francisco and later settled in Denver, Colorado where she spent the majority of the rest of her years. It was in Denver where she had her second son, Kamen Hughes, who continues to live there today. During her final years, Joyce developed a talent for creating photo collages. Those who were lucky enough to receive one from her will have them to cherish for the rest of our lives.

For those who knew and loved Joyce, they quickly learned that she was highly intelligent, had an undeniable comedic and fun personality, and was an extremely talented writer. The combination of her personal attributes, love of the arts, and outward beauty made her one of the most interesting women you could ever know.

Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in her early teens and was baptized at New Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Highland Park, Michigan. She loved our Father God and his son Jesus Christ and maintained her Christian beliefs throughout her life. Thanks to her mother Ethel being a faithful and unrelenting servant of Christ, Joyce was involved in almost every aspect of church life, from Sunday services and choir practices to ushering and holiday plays.

She also played the violin for 8 years during her upper elementary through second year of high school, performing with the Orchestra B ensemble. During her primary through middle school years, she was a member of the Glee Club, Drama Club, and Orchestra.

Joyce lived a full life and was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend to all who knew her.

Joyce is survived by her sons: Kenji Matsumoto (41), and Kamen Hughes (37); grandchildren, Kendall Matsumoto (12), Koa Matsumoto (newborn), Mercedes Hughes (15), King Hughes (9), Kirra Hughes (1) , step-grandchildren, Anneyah McNeal (21), and Jermaine McNeil (16); father William Johnson; one sister Laura Harvey-Bow (Daren Bow), and three brothers Quentin Johnson, Stanley Johnson (Cynthia Johnson), and Mark Johnson (Natalia Ohashi-Johnson); nieces and nephews, Lucretia Tucker, Kamara Harvey, Chase Johnson, Devon Johnson, Maximillian Johnson Sr., Tyler Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Hanna Ohashi-Johnson, Maya Ohashi-Johnson, and Julia Ohashi-Johnson; grand nieces and nephews, Diante West, Keira Smith, Kamen Freeman, Vincent Freeman, and Maximillian Johnson, Jr. and many loving uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Joyce was preceded in death by her mother Ethel Johnson; two brothers William (Ronnie) Johnson, and Milton Johnson; grandparents, William Johnson Sr., Annabelle Johnson, Laura Saunders, and Moses Saunders.

A family hour will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 12:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life Service at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road in Warren, Michigan.