Joy E Abbott

Joy E. Abbott was born on January 21, 1944, in Columbus, Ohio to the late Quenton P. Conley and Helen Elizabeth Conley. She graduated from Licking Heights High School where she was named the salutatorian of her graduating class. After high school, Joy attended The Ohio State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education in 1965. During her undergraduate studies, Joy crossed the burning sands into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and met the love of her life and future husband, Ralph Abbott, Jr. (deceased). Ralph and Joy married on May 12, 1965, and shared 45 years together until his passing on November 30, 2010.

Teaching children to read was Joy’s life’s work. She began her career in Columbus, Ohio where she taught third grade, and carried that same dedication to the classrooms of Arizona while pursuing her graduate studies at the University of Arizona. She made her home in East Lansing, Michigan, where she earned a master’s degree in Literacy from Michigan State University. For 40 years, Joy taught elementary reading and literacy at Grand River, Fairview, Elmhurst and Willow Elementary Schools. She retired in 2012 as a reading specialist. During her tenure as a teacher, she received The Ohio State University Teacher of the Year Award.

For more than 45 years, Joy was a member of Mt. Zion All Nations Bible Church (formerly Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church) in DeWitt, Michigan, where she founded the Tutorial Program to provide weekly tutoring. She also taught Sunday school and served on the Mother’s Board. She was a member of the graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Tau Omega chapter, in Lansing, Michigan, where she served as corresponding secretary for several years, and a charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Epsilon Omega chapter, in East Lansing, Michigan. Joy was also a founding member of the Greater Lansing Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

In the afternoon of September 17, 2026, Joy peacefully departed this life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Abbott, Jr.; her parents, Quenton Preston Conley and Helen Elizabeth Conley; and her grandson, Ralph Abbott, IV. Joy leaves to cherish her memory her children, Lori Abbott of East Lansing, Michigan; Leslie Abbott of Atlanta, Georgia; and Ralph Abbott, III (Dolly Abbott) of Powell, Ohio; her grandchildren, Adam Abbott-Goudiaby, Aaron James Abbott (James Smith), Riley Miles Smith, IV, Keira Elizabeth Smith (Riley Smith), and Amuleek Abbott; her great-granddaughters, Naila Smith and Vera Rose Escareno Goudiaby; her great-grandson, Jeremiah James Abbott; her sister, Patricia Ann Conley of Lansing, Michigan; and a host of cousins and extended family. Joy’s legacy lives on in the community organizations she assisted in founding and in the hearts of all of those who had the honor and pleasure of knowing and loving her.

Funeral Arrangements:

Visitation on October 8, 2026, from 4 – 8 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, located at 1730 E. Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan 48823.

Funeral on October 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion All Nations Bible Church, located at 10575 Krepps Road, DeWitt, Michigan 48820.

Burial on October 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Green Lawn Cemetery, located at 1000 Greenlawn Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43223.