Joyce Pitts

Joyce P. Pitts, age 80 of Dayton, passed away on March 25, 2023. She was born at home on the snowy morning of February 9th, 1943 to the late James and Myrtle Warnock, she was the youngest of four children.

Joyce graduated from Roosevelt High school during the summer of the Freedom Riders. She spent the late 60s and early 70s searching for her place in the world during a tumultuous time, relocating between Dayton, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. During her early life, she tirelessly navigated between raising her 3 children and working towards a better future. She completed several courses at Sinclair Community College and started her working career typing and taking shorthand as a secretary in several business offices before moving to administration at the Dayton Tire and Rubber Company. Later, she spent several years working shifts as a Computer Operator for the City of Dayton (when a computer took up a whole room) before moving to part time work and retirement.

Joyce spent her later life eager to learn new things, and being a true Witness for her God Jehovah. She was a patient listener who gave and listened to advice with an open heart, but ultimately lived her life on her own terms. She was a loving mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt, and friend with a big heart, a free spirit, and an infectious laugh (a giggle). She gave the best hugs, told you that she loved you, and did her best to impart her lifetime of knowledge and wisdom to those she loved and those she met along the way.

She leaves to cherish her memory her Daughter Lois Collingwood (Husband Graham); son, Thomas Perkins; sister, Lulabelle Jackson; 9 grandchildren: Lavon, Loren, Thomas Jr., Destiny, T 'Aundre, Kamica, Christgene, Faith, and Shateal; 15 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Joyce is preceded in death by her eldest son, Leland Warnock; grandson, Lee Warnock; granddaughter, Taneah Perkins; sister, Gladys Blakey; brother, David Warnock; and her parents, James and Myrtle Warnock.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 from 4:00pm to 5:00pm at the Newcomer North Chapel, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton. Funeral services will immediately follow at 5:00pm.

Joyce's service will be live streamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

To share a memory of Joyce, or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.