Obituary of Howard Tillman Joy

CAMDEN – A private family funeral service will be held for Howard T. Joy, 89. Friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend the graveside committal service, 11:30 am, Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Cedars Cemetery, Camden, S.C.  Reverend Jerry Dicks will officiate.  Memorials may be made In Memory of Mr. Howard Joy, Buildings and Grounds, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 1163 Bishopville Hwy, Camden, SC 29020 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html

Mr. Joy passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021.  Born and raised in Camden, S.C., Howard was the son of the late Eugene Joy and Leita Missouri Joy. As a very young man he learned to work hard and to take on responsibility. Howard married Cornelia (Keys) on November 25, 1954 and relocated to Morris County, NJ in 1960.  Morris County became their chosen home for the next 42 years where he worked as a seafood professional. In 2002, Howard and Corneila returned to Camden, SC, where he rejoined his family’s home church, Emmanuel United Methodist Church.

Affectionately known as Tee Joy, Howard was also an avid baseball fan and a self-proclaimed "jack of all trades” including master chef, landscaper, and carpenter; but above all, what he loved most and was the proudest of was his family.

Surviving is his wife of 66 years, Cornelia Keys Joy; children, Karen Joy-Wilson (Isaac), Michael Joy, and Gregory Joy (Dana); grandchildren, James Green, Sheena Joy, Joy Wilson, Jazmin Kersey, Asha Wilson, and Kier Joy; great-grandson, Iziah Green; sister, Ethel Joy Inabinett (Curtis). He was predeceased by his daughter and son, Audrey Joy and Howard Joy Jr. (Nancina); and siblings, Geneva Joy, Frank Joy, Dorothy Joy, Alethia Joy Brown, Jackson Joy, Eloise Joy Williams, Calvin Joy, Eugene Joy, and Carl Joy.

Howard is further survived by a host of nieces, nephews and other beloved friends and relatives. He will be forever remembered for his kind persona, quiet demeanor, cheerful attitude, bright smile, gentle eyes, caring heart, loving embrace, and unconditional love.