Joyce Ann Lockard Strait

Joyce, our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother left her earthly home for her Heavenly home April 15, 2023, surrounded by those she loved in Ocean Springs, MS. Joyce was 76 years old. Born and raised in Circleville, Ohio, Joyce always loved returning home for visits and attending the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Joyce loved spending time with family and friends, the Ohio State Buckeyes, bowling, the colors purple and teal, the movie God's Little Acre and flowers. She always said she wanted her flowers while she was alive to see them. 

 

Joyce was a 1965 graduate of Roswell High School. She moved with her mother to Biloxi, MS, in the late 1960's. In 1971, Joyce met the love of her life and they wed in 1972. Together, they built a wonderful life and were blessed with 50 years of marriage. In Joyce's early married life, she worked at an insurance company, a seafood processing plant, the Swingster Sewing Plant and Northside Builders. She also volunteered at the Lord is My Help, serving meals. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church for over 40 years having accepted Christ as her Savior in the 1970's. Joyce enjoyed cutting grass (for years this was her ministry to her church), reading (especially her KJV Bible), chinese food, eating oysters and listening to music, being especially fond of Gospel and the music of Engelbert Humperdinck. In 1996, Joyce was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis which she fought, along with dementia, until the very end. Joyce was strong in spirit and always had a smile to give.

 

Joyce is preceded in death by her father, John Lockard; mother, Gladys Smith; aunt, Louise Leach; sister, Kaye Gaines; and grandson, Michael Alack.

 

Joyce is survived by her husband, Wendell Strait; son, Joseph Winterstein; daughter, Elizabeth Strait; granddaughter, Michelle Winterstein; grandson, Logan Strait; grandchildren in love, Kyle and Reagan Stevenson; four great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and her furbaby Miss Kitty. Family in love include Joshua B, Les Martin, Shain Carson, Lynwood and Marie Stevenson, Krystal Havens, Jamie Puett and Joyce's entire church family. 

 

Our family would like to extend a special thank you to Nurse Pam Wilkinson of Deaconess HomeCare. We were blessed to have you fighting mom's health battle along with us for the past 6 years and mom wouldn't have made it this far without you. You became part of our family and are by far the best we have ever seen. Keep fighting, we love you. Special thanks to Patti Hand of Deaconess HomeCare for the assistance you provided over the years. We love you.

 

Services will be held at Grace Baptist Church, 3707 Bienville Blvd Ocean Springs, MS 39564 on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 at 11:00 am. Friends may visit one hour prior. Intermet will follow at Antioch Cemetery, 10442 Antioch Road Vancleave, MS 39565.

 

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Joyce Ann Lockard Strait.