Joyce Ann Finch Fleming

Joyce Ann Finch Fleming, 77, departed this life on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Joyce was born to the union of Paul and Grace (Jackson) Finch on January 14, 1944 in Dayton, Ohio.  Joyce attended Dayton public schools.  After graduating from Roosevelt High School Class of 1962.   she attended Howard University where she graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French.  She was initiated as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in April 1964. 

Joyce retired from Belmont Laboratories after more than 20 years of service. 

She was a lifelong member of McKinley United Methodist Church, where she served as a Junior Usher and MYF.  After returning to Dayton, around 1980, Joyce served as co-chair of the church’s Communication Committee., a member of the church’s Progressive Adult group and the Family Life Committee She continued to be a staunch supporter of the National Church Ushers Association and of the McKinley Bowling League.

Joyce enjoyed travelling. Besides residing in several states and Panama, she travelled throughout the country, including California, Louisiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and the District of Columbia.  She enjoyed travelling with her church family to numerous Cincinnati Reds baseball games and to the Ushers Association annual convention.  She was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. She also enjoyed reading especially about holistic approaches to healing and preventative measures.

Joyce was a devoted daughter, niece, cousin, and a loyal friend who will be deeply missed. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Grace (Jackson) Finch, her maternal grandparents David and Mattie (Kilgore) Jackson, her paternal grandparents Boss and Elizabeth Finch, aunts Pearl (Edward) Callahan , Ada  (Arnold)Yarber, Frances Winston, Doris F. (Joseph) Dunham, uncles, William Lee Jackson, Leon Jackson, Robert Allen Jackson, David Jackson,  Nathaniel and James Jackson, James E. (Alice) Finch, Sr., William A. Finch, Andrew O. Finch and Ernest A. (Gloria) Finch of Miami Florida and numerous cousins.

She is survived by devoted cousins Deborah Callahan-Lewis of Las Vegas Nevada and Linda B. Finch of Cincinnati, Ohio; other cousins Marcia Callahan of Los Angeles, California, Cassandra (Joe) Young, Arnold D. “Darryl” Yarber of Champaign,  Illinois, Steve Jackson, Dean Jackson, Esther Jackson and William Jackson, Brandon Finch of Dayton, Ohio, Darron Finch of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Finch and Mechelle Finch Bethel of Miami, Florida and special friends Learwinson and Lelia Jackson, Clotee Mitchell, and Deanna Shelton, Rhonda Beckwith, Francis & Marghi Boyers, “adopted” family-friends Susan Jackson Thrash, Bruce and Cheryl Atwater, Jana R. Adams, and Catherine and Dale Smith, Karen Brown Fallings and Eric Oliver.

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