Joy was born in Opa-Locka, FL to John L. Watson and Irvene H. (Bell) Watson on October 14, 1948 and grew up in Hialeah, FL. Joy graduated from Hialeah High School in 1966 and also attended Palm Beach Jr. College completing studies in Education. Joy also became a Christian on June 9, 1967.
After moving to Moore Haven, FL, Joy became a member of the Christian Church of Moore Haven, and from 1978 to 2006 (28 years) Joy worked for the for Glades County School System. From 1978 to 1989, she worked at Moore Haven Elementary School as a Classroom Aide and Guidance Secretary/Data Operator. Then from 1989 to 2006 she worked for the Glades County School Board: 1989 - 1992 as Secretary to the Director of Instructional Services, 1992 - 2005 as a Database Support Specialist, and 2005 - 2006 as Secretary to the Director of Administrative Services.
After retiring from the school system in 2006, Joy became a caregiver for her mother Irvene and moved to Tampa, FL, and also helped to care for her Aunt and Uncle in Tampa. Joy loved to attend Sheldon Road Baptist Church in Tampa and volunteering at Town and Country Hospital.
Joy became an American Red Cross hospital volunteer at Town and Country Hospital in Tampa, FL from 2008 - 2020 (12 years). As a volunteer she worked in various departments; information desk, accounts payable, infection control, risk management, health department, and education department. In her final years she became the Volunteer Coordinator overseeing all the volunteers at the hospital. Joy also received numerous appreciation awards and the Chapter Line Volunteer Award from the American Red Cross in 2011.
Joy is preceded in death by her mother Irvene H. Watson, her father John L. Watson, her brother Lee Watson, sister Shirley Watson, and her beloved Rascal the Chihuahua.
Joy is survived by her son Christopher Kotz, sister Sheryl Vanderpol, sister Dorothy Whittaker, brother John T. Watson, and her beloved Tig Tig the cat.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 11am to 12pm at Sheldon Road Baptist Church, 7208 Sheldon Road, Tampa, FL 33615.
Memorials may be given to Sheldon Road Baptist Church, 7208 Sheldon Road, Tampa, FL 33615 or online at Sheldonroadbaptist.com in memory of Joy.
The family of Joy wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all the doctors, nurses, aides, and hospital workers at St. Joseph’s Hospital and at AccentCare Hospice on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Tampa, FL. Their kindness, professionalism and genuine caring support really surpassed any other experience we have seen in hospital care. They truly are an amazing group of people.
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