Joyce Ann Drake Stanley was born March 10, 1965, in Huntsville, Alabama, to parents Richard, Jr. and Marie Bradford Drake. At an early age, Joyce confessed hope and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at Union Hill Primitive Baptist Church under the leadership of Elder Dr. Oscar L. Montgomery, Sr. God called her home to rest unexpectantly on March 12, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois.
Joyce was the third of four children, but she was not one to be lost in the middle. She was strong-willed, hardworking, and competitive; yet she had a personality that made people always want to be around her. Joyce graduated from J. O. Johnson High School, Class of 1983. After graduation, she briefly attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville and left to pursue her calling in the Fashion and Beauty Industry.
Joyce loved making people feel beautiful and setting and reaching personal career goals. She got her start working with Clinique Cosmetics at Parisian Department Store and excelled in advising about skincare and providing makeovers. When her customers/clients came to her, she shared the joy of the transformations she offered. Joyce’s success at the counter led her to becoming an Account Coordinator/Counter Manager for Clinique in Huntsville and Birmingham for almost 14 years.
As a black woman, Joyce was especially sensitive to the challenges women of color face with the availability of appropriate cosmetics. When the opportunity to become a
Regional Sales Manager for Fashion Fair Cosmetics was presented, she accepted and moved to Chicago. Anyone who knew Joyce and her closeness to her family in Huntsville understands that this move was significant. As expected, she excelled at Fashion Fair. She spoke highly of the opportunity to work with black fashion and lifestyle legends Mr. John and Mrs. Eunice Johnson, and Mrs. Linda Johnson Rice of the Johnson Publishing Company, then owners of the Fashion Fair Cosmetics Line, for over 11 years.
The work at Fashion Fair and life in Chicago led Joyce to become active in social and political causes. Joyce worked within the Chicago Community and Reverend Jesse Jackson’s staff at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. A highlight of her political activism was volunteering with the Barack Obama Campaign in 2007-2008 and meeting President Obama.
After working for others, Joyce ventured on her own to become a consultant for several organizations within the Hyde Park Community. Her clients included the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and the Hyde Park School of Dance.
Later, Joyce returned to sales, working as a Regional Corporate Sales Specialist for Macy’s and then as a Qualified Sales Specialist for H&R Block. At the time of her death, she was employed in the Hyde Park Community as a personal banker at Hyde Park Bank.
Joyce met the love her life, Gary Stanley while in Chicago. Joyce and Gary met at the Women’s Expo. She was working for Fashion Fair and he was in attendance with his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers. It was an encounter that was meant to be, and they started dating soon thereafter. Although they did not marry until June 2013, Joyce and Gary were in love for almost 24 years.
Joyce and Gary created special memories in their lives together. As self-described foodies, they enjoyed trying different restaurants in the Chicago area. Joyce loved it all – ice cream, pasta, tacos, steak, seafood, and of course, Chicago deep-dish pizza. Joyce also enjoyed cooking for her family at their home in Hyde Park. Dishes that will be missed are her gravy, smoked turkey, and brats with sauerkraut. When they weren’t eating together, you might find Joyce and Gary shopping, especially at the outlets. (She always loved a deal!) They enjoyed riding bikes along Lake Shore Drive when the weather was nice. Traveling and spending time with friends was also important to the couple. Recently, they had a fantastic time in Barcelona, Spain with friends.
Joyce leaves many to cherish her memories: her loving and devoted husband, Gary Stanley; her loving parents, Richard and Marie Drake; three sisters: Teresa Drake, Angela Brazelton, and Linda Whittmore (Terry); two nephews, Tyler Brazelton and Nicholas Brazelton; a sister/cousin, Gladys J. Adams (James); two stepchildren, Jule Stanley and Constance Stanley; one step-grandchild, Chloe; two sisters-in-law, Teres Stanley and Folayan Stanley; two brothers-in-law, Floys Stanley III (Betsy) and Eric Stanley (Lisa); step-nephews and step-nieces, Floyd IV, Mariah, Peyton, Cameron, Kayden, and Avery; two aunts, Maybell Diggs and Fannie Bradford; and a host of cousins and friends.
The funeral service for Mrs. Joyce Ann Drake Stanley will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Hope and Restoration Church (2525 Aspen Avenue Huntsville, AL 35810) with Reverend Dr. Laurie McCaulley officiating. Interment will be in the Valhalla Memory Gardens. Mrs. Stanley will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.
