Joyce Clark

GOOD MORNING CHAPTER SERVE CHAPTER 

 

Joyce C. Clark had an amazing lifespan of 87 years that commenced on May 23,1935, when she was born and announced to the world as Joyce C. Blackburn, to proud parents, Cleveland and Ernestine Blackburn in Trenton, New Jersey. 

 

LIFE CHAPTER 

 

A lifelong resident of Trenton, New Jersey, she was educated in the Trenton Public School System. Upon graduating from Trenton High School, at the young age of 17, she met and married her eternal love, Leon "Lee" Clark in 1952. From this union, they bore three sons and settled in Ewing Township, New Jersey. 

 

CHAPTER JOYCE AND LEON CLARK 

 

You couldn't say "Joyce" without mentioning "Leon". They were a dynamic duo! Leon and Joyce were the "George and Wezy Jefferson" of Ewing Township. They had a no nonsense, yet caring way about taking care of each other and the "BOYS". As a "Power Couple", they opened and operated the Dodger Bar at 83 Breunig Ave in Trenton, from 1983 thru 2007. The Dodger Bar was known as a Trenton 'hotspot' that had a vibrant presence not only as an entertainment venue, but also as the proud host of ! community events and sponsors of local baseball, basketball and softball teams. Their constant dedication to the business allowed them to employ local residents and eventually transfer ownership to inspiring entrepreneurs rather than shutting down. Leon operated the business while Joyce ran the household. And like the Jeffersons show, "She was the true Boss", the one in charge. 

 

CAREER CHAPTER, 

 

Joyce excelled in her career as a paraprofessional for the Ewing Board of Education. Maya Angelou stated, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Over her 36 years of supporting hundreds of children, she had a magical way of making them all feel supported and loved. As an 

experienced educator, Joyce was focused on getting as many children mainstreamed and out of special education. She was .an integral part of Lanning Elermenatary School, Parkway Elementary School and also served as the President of the Parkway Parent Teacher Association, (PTA). She retired at the start of the millennium, having left a long lasting impression on hundreds of students, staff and parents. 

 

Joyce's life's mantra was "Live, Love & Service." She truly lived her life to the fullest and was a woman of culture. One of her favorite hobbies was island hopping throughout the Caribbean with Lee and their best friends and neighbors, Jacqui and Bill. On her travels she thoughtfully handpicked presents, and upon returning home, she'd hand out the 'trinkets' to family and friends accompanied by the warmest brightest smile. 

 

She had a way of making you feel special, especially when she would call you "Precious". She was committed to her family and would go out of her way to be a blessing to others. Her service to others grew out of a genuine love for Christ and she was truly rooted in "JOY". Eventually she and her husband committed their lives to Christ and joined the Wayne Avenue Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey as faithful members. 

 

CHAPTER GOODNIGHT 

 

After an extended residency of an over a decade at the Water's Edge Nursing Home in Trenton, Joyce departed this life on Tuesday, June 7th, in the year of our Lord and Savior, two thousand and twenty-two at Saint Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Predeceased by her loving husband, Leon; her parents; brother, Cleveland Jr. and brother-in-law Edward 'Mickey', Joyce is survived by her loving children, Leon "Butch" Jr., Kevin and Sean; four grandchildren, Shaun (Khalilah), Melissa, Durell and Christina; seven great-grandchildren, Celeste, Anaya, Jasmine, Mason, Joy, Phoenix, Zoey; her sister, Carolyn; sister-in-law, Virginia; a goddaughter, Elyse (Lionel); special friend, Delores Pruitt; a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. 

 

CHARGE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

 

A Memoriam section of the Parkway Elementary School library is being established in Joyce's memory. To support this tribute, donations can be made via check/money order to the following, (Please enter 'Joyce Clark Memoriam' in the check's memo.) 

 

Joyce Clark Memoriam 

ATTN: Michelle Conway, Principal 

Parkway Elementary School 

446 Parkway Avenue I Ewing, NJ 08618