RIDGELAND, Miss. – Joyce Leona Hawkins Parker, 97, died May 25, 2022, in Ridgeland, Miss.

Joyce was born March 7, 1925, on the family farm in Monmouth, the youngest of five girls. Her parents, Arthur and Mildred Hawkins, had emigrated from New Brunswick to work in the shoe factories of Auburn and Lewiston. Sadly, her parents lost the farm during the Depression, resulting in a move to Auburn.

Following her graduation from Edward Little High School in 1943, she attended Bates College, Lewiston, graduating with a degree in French in 1947. She taught school for five years in Maine and Massachusetts, where she met another teacher, H. Jefferson Parker.

Discovering she didn’t care for teaching, Joyce trained as an Occupational Therapist at Tufts University in Boston. Joyce and Jeff married in 1953 and eventually moved to Pine Bush, N.Y. Joyce worked as an Occupational Therapist at the Orange County Cerebral Palsy Center in Goshen, N.Y., and later at Castle Point VA Medical Center.

She was a devoted Christian and always sought to lead a faith-filled life. Joyce enjoyed playing the piano, knitting, and baking incredible brownies. Joyce never lost her Maine accent and considered Maine to be her true home. She enjoyed visiting family there and taking annual vacations on the coast at Bailey Island.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 68 years; and sons Jefferson (Debbie) of Ridgeland, Miss.; Karl (Beth) of Galway, N.Y.; and Dean (Pam) of Dahlonega, Ga. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Wells Methodist Church, Jackson, Miss., at 11 a.m. on June 25. The service will be live-streamed at http://www.wellschurch.org/who-we-are/watch-livestream.

Joyce will be buried at Gracelawn Cemetery, Auburn, on July 23.

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to your favorite charity.