Joyce was born on September 24, 1958, to Johnnie B. Stanley and Evelyn D. Stanley (Judge), in Tampa, Florida. SFC Stanley was a US Army Combat Veteran who served honorably from 1987 to 2007. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she served with the 1st Armored Division and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Iraqi Freedom Campaign Ribbon. She attended elementary and junior high schools in Ybor City. She attended and served as a member of the Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Richard Henry Howard. Joyce graduated from Robinson High School in 1976. She performed as a cheerleader with her sister, Cassandra, and motivated their teams to many victories. She later attended Florida State University in Tallahassee. In 1987, she joined the armed forces and completed basic training in Fort Jackson, SC. She then completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in Fort Lee, VA., and was then awarded the 92P (Logistical Specialist) MOS. She would serve in numerous assignments stateside and nearly 13 years overseas. Upon graduation from AIT, she was assigned to Fort Ord, California. She saw further assignments in the 1st Armed Division in Nuremberg, Germany. Later, she served in the Corps Support Command (COSCOM) XVIII ABN Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She was reassigned overseas to the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea.

She served in the Division Support Command (DISCOM) 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany. Later, she returned to Germany for her final assignment with the 3rd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. She is a graduate of the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course (ANCOC), Basic NCO Course (BNCOC), and the Primary Leader Development Course (PLDC). After completing more than 20 years of active military service, she was honorably discharged in 2007 and returned to her hometown of Tampa, Florida, as a retired US veteran. Her decorations include: The Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Award (6th Award), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award), the Combat Should Patch, Driver and Mechanic Badges. Joyce was preceded in death by her father, Johnnie B. Stanley. She is survived by her mother, Evelyn D. Judge Stanley; sister, Cassandra D. Stanley Ingraham and brother-in-law, John Ingraham Jr.; "brother", Rev. Marcus R. Graddy; nephews, Captain Travis B. Ingraham, US Army, and Preston H. Ingraham; niece, Dominique Rose Ingraham; aunts, Lillie Mae Nichols, Constance Dutcheville, Carolyn McKinney, Carolyn West, and Sheryl Hester; uncles, Pete Ricks, LeRoy Stanley, Theodis and aunt, Leanna McKinney, and a host of cousins and great cousins.

Aikens Funeral Home

Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church