Mary ‘Joyce’ Clark White, 91, of Huntsville, AL, went to be with our heavenly father on October 16, 2022. Her husband of 60 years, James Wesley White, preceded her in death in 2014. Joyce was born July 5,1931 in Hamilton, Alabama to William Thomas (Tom) Clark and Florence Young Clark. She grew up in Hamilton and attended Hamilton High School where she met and dated her husband James Wesley White. They were in the band and cheer leading squad together. She entered Judson College (1950) studying education. After her freshman year, she transferred to Howard College known as Samford University. She and James dated all through college while he was at Auburn University. When James returned from the Korean War, they married in 1953.
They moved to Huntsville, AL in 1957 where they started a career together. James the mechanical engineer with Morton Thiokol Chemical Engineering at Redstone Arsenal and Joyce working at Whitesburg Baptist Church Kindergarten (1960) as a kindergarten teacher, Sunday school teacher and managed the kindergarten office for 40 plus years. Joyce was talented in many areas and blessed us for many years singing in the church choir, playing the piano, cooking, gardening and being the best wife, mom, daughter, aunt, and sister to numerous family members and friends.
Joyce was particularly devoted to her aunts and uncles, Frank Clark, Hugh (Boss) Clark, Max Clark, Flint Cark and Aunts Ruby, Maggie and Margaret Clark, Annie Young Knight, Viola Young Irvin, Ozzie Young McKay and Fred Young. She received much joy being with her in-laws, Dr. Marvin Spears White and Annie Mae White; her brother, Ralph Clark; and nieces, Jan Clark, Vonceil Clark Cooper (James) and Jill Clark Northrup (Alan). She was blessed with 20 plus first cousins. Barbra Ann Clark Weeks (Buddy) and Dale Clark Davis (Jim), Jean Clark being the closest like sisters to her.
Joyce is survived by her children, William Marvin White, and Mary Yvette White Lourie (Dr. Gary), grandchildren, Jackson, Mary Wesleigh and Allie Lourie of Atlanta, GA. Joyce was known as a great beauty inside and out and filled the world with her elegance and grace.
Visitation will be from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 28, 2022, at Whitesburg Baptist Church Chapel-South Campus with a memorial service following at 11:00 a.m. A committal service will be at 3:00 p.m. at Fulton Bridge Cemetery in Hamilton, AL.
Memorials may be made to Whitesburg Baptist Church kindergarten in Huntsville, AL, or Fulton Bridge Baptist Church, 3090 County Hwy 55, P.O. Box 125, Hamilton, AL 35570.
