Joy Sica Naylor

Joy Lynne passed away in her adopted hometown of Sarasota, FL on August 3, 2025.

That is right. Joy Lynne was born on Friday the 13th. Yet, she was only scary when you knew you had done something wrong like hiding a bottle of beer in a bass drum, taking the car out in the middle of the night, or not eating your vegetables; watching our family grow up could have been a hit television show.

Our Mother loved family. We meant everything to her. Being a Mom was more important than her Broadway career or anything for that matter. Jennifer and I were absolutely beyond lucky and fortunate to have such a powerful figure who so honestly and lovingly raised us. She always showed up. Wherever my sister and I lived, our mother would show up and ask, “How is my daughter? How is my son?”

Our Mother graduated with the class of 1953 from South Uniontown High School and moved on to Carnegie Tech to study theatre but left in the summer of 1956 for New York City where she always believed that if “I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere,” and she did!

Within one month of arriving, Joy was cast in her first Broadway musical, Fanny. She performed in Carousel both on Broadway and its world tour. Also, starring in Fallout (off Broadway), performing in a limited engagement of South Pacific in 1957, understudied the lead in The King and I, and performed in Portofino, along with other Broadway productions and national tours. She sang demos for composer friends, modeled, and was scouted for West Side Story but declined because she had just committed to Carousel. Wow! Fate.

By the close of the 1950’s, Joy had established herself on and off the Broadway stage. Throughout the years, Joy was repeatedly elected to the Actors Equity Association Union’s Board of Directors who represent all theatre performers and stage handlers.

Joy was a natural born singer and performer. The first song she ever sang was Mexicali Rose, made famous by Bing Crosby in the early 1930s. She would proudly stand in front of the fireplace and confidently put on a show for the family with her “Meeexxicali Rose.”

While in New York City and before she met our father, Joy lived with her best of best friends, Jane Hawthorne. They grew up together in Uniontown and were inseparable, even becoming high school cheerleaders together and serving as each other’s maids of honor. Sadly, we lost Jane May 11, 2003.

Jazz clubs of the day like The Five Spot, Birdland, and The Village Gate were their night-into-early-morning haunts and where they saw their favorite musicians with whom they shared unique friendships. Renowned saxophone/multi-reed instrumentalist Eric Dolphy would use the gals’ apartment to rehearse for upcoming gigs and composing; after performances by jazz great Charles Mingus, Joy and Jane, along with Charles and his wife, would return to the Mingus’s for breakfast. True stories.

After leaving Broadway in 1964, Joy remained in New York City where she discovered her knack for professional politics. She excelled at a multitude of roles during campaigns for three decades beginning in the '60s, steadfastly dedicated to helping create the positive change promised by the candidates for whom she worked. Some won; others didn’t. But Joy loved every rush and every second of her political career.

It was at this time that Joy ran into the fella who would become her husband and our Father, Charles W. Naylor. They divorced in 1990 which allowed them to begin painting new lives for themselves. Our Father passed February 2, 2021.

Joy passionately volunteered for a variety of causes: women’s rights; animal welfare (all species were a constant in and out of our home), as well as positive, forward thinking groups.

Joy is predeceased by her Mother, Beulah, who passed away on Christmas morning 1969 and her Father, Robert, who passed October 9, 1995.

Joy Lynne is survived by her two children Jennifer Naylor of Ocala, FL and Bradley Naylor of Nashville, TN; her younger siblings Robert and Renee, their spouses and children; and Uncles Rick and Tom Sica and their families.

(Sincerest apologies for any family members unintentionally omitted.)

Joy was a doer.

A maker.

A joker and sometimes a troublemaker (good trouble that is).

Please honor Joy Lynne by considering a donation to one of the following organizations:

Actors Equity Association

Planned Parenthood

Family/ Individual Behavioral Health Counseling Facilities

Cat Depot of Sarasota

DOGS Inc. (Service Dog Organization)

Humane Society of Sarasota County

Community Foundation of Fayette County

Joy Lynne Sica Fund

250 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401

www.mstcuniontown.org

“When life believes you are worth the energy

It drops in your lap the hardest of tasks

Our Mother was more than beauty and smiles with a perfect pitch voice

She was a firebrand who was loving decent exciting colorful driven

Our Mother will forever be our Burning Sunset

We love her Always, Always”

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Bay Plaza Condominium, 1276 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota FL. Complimentary valet parking will be available. Catered food and beverages will be provided.

Join us in honoring Joy’s colorful life — bright, casual attire is encouraged!