Joyce Stella Smith of Scarborough, Ontario passed away peacefully on May 26, 2023, at Providence Healthcare surrounded by loved ones, she was a few weeks shy of her 93rd birthday. Joyce was born on July 7, 1930 in British Guiana (present day Guyana) to parents Charles Smith and Olive Headley. She grew up at 255 Da Silva Street, Newtown where she was very well known and loved by all of her neighbours and maintained those friendships throughout her life. Later on she would become a mother figure to many youths in the area. She attended St. Winifred's Primary School and continued her secondary education at Cambridge Academy. Joyce also attended commercial school where she completed Typewriting, Shorthand, and English courses. She worked at Breanna Shirt Factory and Kwang Hing Supermarket. In her later years, she worked in the education field as an Invigilator supervising Common Entrance and GCE exams. She also taught English out of her home to Chinese nationals who operated businesses in Guyana.

In 1995, Joyce migrated to Canada to be with her daughter Gillian and family. Once in Canada, she spent her golden years doting on her grandchildren. Joyce was a God-fearing woman and enjoyed attending church. She attended ESP Worship Center where she was a member for over 20 years. In her spare time she promoted social activities for seniors as well as being a member of the tenants board where she resided. She lived actively and independently for many years and prided herself on being able to navigate the GTA by bus and train. Joyce took on the unofficial role as caregiver in her building and would tend to those who needed assistance with joy in her heart. She also enjoyed spending long holidays with her children and extended family in the United States. Joyce enjoyed listening to gospel music, reading, watching Family Feud, Judge Judy and programming by televangelists Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn.

Joyce is predeceased by her partner Sylvan Lewis-Browne, son Donavan, sisters Gwendolyn, Elaine and Rita, brother Neville and son in law Terrence. Her legacy lives on through her children Gillian (George), Cheryl Ann (Alvin), Debra, Sylvan (Devika), Alexis (Wayne) and Bevon (Catherine). Her Crown Jewels, grandchildren Marcel (Jasmin), André (Indira), Ryan (Tatiana) Charade, Mark (Adeline), Kerese (Ivan), Melissa (Justin), Alicia, Sylvan Jr., Devika (Jeffrey), Tony, Grace, Nehemiah, Tiffany, Pia, Sylvan Jr., Timea, Aiesha and many great grand children whom she absolutely adored. She will be greatly missed by her cherished nieces Shereen and Fiona and nephews Roger, Clyde, Marshall and Guy as well as a host of other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in Joyce Smith's honour to ESP Worship Center. The link is located in the donation portion of this website. Using the link, if you choose to donate, you can do so by selecting GENERAL from the drop down menu under (Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity). Under the heading (Send a message to this charity, type) JOYCE SMITH.

Let us continue to be inspired by sharing the loving memories we have of Joyce.