Obituary of Joyce A. Carter

Joyce Ann Canady Carter

Sunrise: April 24, 1935 Sunset: December 22, 2023

Joyce Ann Canady Carter was born in Institute, West Virginia, on April 24, 1935, to the union of Dr. Herman George Canady and Julia Witten Canady. She was the first child of Herman's and Julia's union. Joyce's parents, Herman and Julia, preceded her in death.

Joyce (affectionately known as Joyce, Aunt Joyce, Mom, Yo, The Rock, and Sweet Pea) attended her father Herman's alma mater, Northwestern University, graduating in the ninety-ninth commencement ceremony on June 17, 1957 (the importance of education and Black Excellence was instilled in her by her father, a member of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity). A lifelong learner, she continued her education to pursue an MSW graduate degree in social work from Wayne State University and additional studies at Glassboro State College( now Rowan University). Joyce became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tau Chapter while attending Wayne State University.

As a young social worker in Philadelphia, Joyce attended a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. dance where she met the love of her life and future husband, Attorney Theodore U. Carter. In 1964, Joyce and Theodore wed. Two children were born to their union a son, Theodore Nathan, and a daughter, Julia Witten, who preceded her in death. They moved to Williamstown, NJ, from Philadelphia in 1968, where they built a home and started their family!

Though a working Mom, who drove 42 miles round trip to work daily, Joyce was an active and engaged Mom and the glue of the Carter family, a classy wife and hostess for family gatherings and parties,  "the Rock" for her husband during his long fight with COPD and cancer.  This continued even during her health challenges as she served as taxi for her kids' sports and high school activities 10 miles in the opposite direction from home, ensuring that they were college bound; Georgetown University and Sweet Briar College. Later in life, she exhibited this same devotion and love to her grandson, Ralphie, after her daughter died unexpectedly. She also loved and enjoyed her nieces, especially spending time shopping and eating with her favorite niece, Meryl L. Junious!

She served as a school Social Worker in the Camden City, NJ, school system for more than 20 years and also worked as a Social Worker at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital.

Joyce had many interests, including listening to music (insisting that her kids learn to play the piano), gardening, and dogs. She was an avid reader, introducing this joy to her kids and grandson at an early age, making every Friday afternoon library day. Later in life, after her children were on their own, Friday afternoon library day was replaced with annual Kwanzaa activities replacing Christmas as her favorite holiday after being introduced to it by her niece Meryl, which included enjoying books and films. 

She was also an avid traveler. Independent by nature, she traveled across Europe in her early twenties as a single Black woman and later to Africa by herself, a passion passed on from her mother! Later, she would travel with her husband to Cuba and Mexico and take annual family car trips across the US to attend National Bar Association conferences each summer. Always active, she took up golf later in life after tennis was no longer practical – introducing Ted Jr. to the game, – which was one of their favorite things to do together in addition to eating, napping, and enjoying Pastor Raymond Gordon's sermons at St. Matthews Church in Williamstown, NJ.

While she did not like to cook, she had several specialties: spaghetti, Hamburger Helper and noodles, deviled eggs, and banana pudding. Her favorite cocktail of choice was cold lemonade, which often washed down her meal of choice – ribs!

Joyce Anna Canady Carter peacefully transitioned home at Good Samaritan Hospice, to join her husband, Theodore U. Carter, and her daughter, Julia Witten Carter, and her dogs, Philbert, Rusty & Sammie, on December 22, 2023.

Joyce leaves to celebrate her life and to cherish her beloved memory, her devoted son, Theodore N. Carter (Terrie); her grandsons, Ralph W. Baker III, Joseph Howard, and Zion Vernon; her brother, Herman Canady (Barbara); her favorite niece, Meryl L. Junious; her best friend, Elsie Wadell, and a host of nieces and nephews, numerous relatives, and friends.

Thank You

The word thanks seem inadequate, but necessary. The kindness and grace that many of you have shown us cannot be repaid in this life but is acknowledged: in particular the extraordinary care by: Shonta Collins, her health provider at Cardinal Village, The MS 4 Team at Jefferson Hospital, The Good Samaritan Hospice Staff, Kierston Jefferson, Assisted Living Executive Director Cardinal Village, the Cardinal Village food service staff and entire Cardinal Village Wing 300 nursing and support team! We hardly know what to say. 

We thank each one of you for helping us and often going the extra mile for Mom. Your thoughtfulness and Care means so much, and like us, we know you will miss her too. If we listen with our hearts, we will hear all her love around us, soft and clear. We will look to her memory for strength each day and know that in our hearts, she will show us the way. Thank you all for everything!

With love, forever grateful, The Family

Relatives and friends are welcome to attend Joyce's viewing on Friday, January 5th, 2023, from 11 am - 12 pm, followed by a funeral ceremony in The Chapel of McGuinness Funeral Home, located at 573 Egg Harbor Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080. Joyce will be reunited with the love of her life, Theodore, at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Monroe Township, NJ

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