Dr. Joyce’s Obituary Dr. Joyce Lorine Mitchell Crawford-Martinez, age 71, of McDonough quietly departed this life on Monday February 11, 2019. She was born January 12, 1948 to the late George W. Mitchell and Thelma Barrett Mitchell in Brunswick, GA. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her siblings, Dorothy Pipkin (Clarence), Kenneth Mitchell (Cecila), and David Mitchell.
Joyce came to Miami in 1954 along with her family where she attended Dade County Public School at Miami Jackson Senior High and graduated in 1966. After graduation Joyce attended Miami Dade Community College where she received her Associate in Arts. She then attended Florida Atlantic University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English Education.
She also attended Florida International University for her Masters in English Education and Reading Education. She received her Doctor’s Degree in Education Leadership Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Florida. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Trinity CME Church in Miami, Florida where she was a dedicated member and a part of the young adult choir.
After leaving Trinity, Joyce became a member of the Gospel Way Baptist Church in Miami, Florida. After relocating to Georgia, Joyce found a church home at Mount Bethel United Methodist Church. As a result of her generous spirit and pleasant personality, she was loved by many.
Her Christian life was as beautiful as she was and her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her. In 1969 Joyce worked for Dade County Public School as an English Professor and in 1973 she became an Adjunct Instructor of English at Miami Dade Community College North Campus. In 1977 she went from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor.
In 1977 she was the Multi Skills Lab Director at the Wolfson Campus. Also in 1977 she was promoted from Associate Professor to Full Professor. In 1983 Joyce became the Chairperson of the Language Arts Department.
In 1992 she was the Associate Dean of the School of Communications. In 1995 Joyce was the Interim Executive Dean of Miami Dade Community College Mitchell Wolfson Campus Inter-American Center. Also in 1995 she was the Interim Executive Dean for the Inter-American Campus.
In 1998 she became the Academic Dean of Miami Dade North Campus. In 2001 Joyce was awarded the Academic and Student Service Dean of Miami Dade Community College Homestead Campus until she retired in 2003. Even after retirement Joyce still enjoyed teaching.
When she relocated to McDonough, Georgia, she was an Instructor and a Visiting Instructor at DeVry University until 2019. Joyce was a faithful active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Miami and Georgia. In 1984 Joyce met Ricardo Antonio Martinez and in 1995 they were united in holy matrimony.
He loved her unconditionally and it showed. He was always by her side. In this union they each had one child, Alan Andrew Crawford (Dawn) and Cristina Rochez (Jose); four grandchildren, Shanisia, Jade, Liliana, and India; three god-daughters, Ronnia Sheffield, Shantrel Forbes, and Jaliyah Charlton.
Also left to celebrate her life are two sisters, Patricia (Bobby Williams) and Dianne (David Williams); two brothers, Charles Mitchell (Sharon), and Julius Lang (Cheryl); mother-in-law, Herada Martinez; sister-in-law, Barbara Martinez; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and co-workers. Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at The Chapel of Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors with Reverend Claire Yoder officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at Dept.
41831, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265 or ww5. komen.org. Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.
cannonclevelandfunerals.com. Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors, 770-914-1414.
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