Joyce Lorraine Petway

PETWAY, Mrs. Joyce Lorraine - age 67, passed away, Monday, June 10, 2013 at Laurel Baye Health Care Facility in Greenville, South Carolina. Family hour 10:00AM Saturday June 15, 2013 at Providence Missionary Baptist Church, 299 Bagley St., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11AM. Pastor Robert Martin, officiating. Interment Perry Mount Park Cemetery, 878 N. Perry St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Saturday. Mrs. Petway will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., and may be viewed from 6-7:30PM Friday, and from 10:00AM-11:00AM at the church Saturday. The family will be present from 6:00-7:30PM Friday to receive friends at the funeral home, as well the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will also be present to render the Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony from 7:00-7:30PM. Joyce Lorraine (Callahan) Petway, departed this life on June 10, 2013. She was born in Roanoke, Virginia on July 15, 1945, to John M. Callahan and Carrie L. (Yuille) Callahan. Joyce spent her first years in Naruna, VA and Philadelphia, PA. Her family then moved to Monessen, PA where she graduated from Monessen High School in 1963. A lifelong learner and educator, Joyce was the first in her family to go to college, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from HamptonInstitute (currently Hampton University) in 1967. That same year she began her life’s work as an educator. Joyce became the First African-American Female Junior High School Teacher in the Pontiac School District, Pontiac MI. Throughout her career, she taught History, Government, Economics, and English. Joyce later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Marygrove College, Detroit, MI. She enjoyed an illustrious teaching career, spanning over 30 years: Making invaluable contributions to numerous educational associations at the local, state, and national levels especially as a member of the Pontiac Education Association and the National Education Association (NEA Lifetime Member). Joyce accepted Christ at an early age and was a tireless church worker. She developed, led, and supported youth programs and initiatives at the Messiah Missionary Baptist and the Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac MI. She served wherever she was needed: she chaired Vacation Bible School, served as the Church Clerk, published the church bulletins, and served as Youth Director. In keeping with her true calling as an educator, Joyce was also passionate about Christian Education. She attended and completed numerous classes at Christian Education Conferences all over the country, many through the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. She was an advocate for children, and was a leader and supporter of countless community activities. She worked in soup kitchens, was a member of Kiwanis International and was a Lifetime Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (Theta Lambda Omega Chapter) with over 25 years of service (Silver Star). Joyce is preceded in death by her father, John Callahan, and is survived by her mother, Carrie L. Callahan; a daughter, Darlene (Russell) Shepherd; a son, William D. Petway; two grandchildren, Ariel Shepherd and Gregory Shepherd; four sisters, Jacqueline (Richard) Carter, Theresa (Derek) Lawrence, Phyllis Seck, and Vanetta Callahan; five nieces, one nephew, and one great nephew.

Joyce Lorraine Petway

July 15, 1945 - June 10, 2013