JOYCE ELLEN EVANS was born on March 29, 1947 to the union of the late Edward and Eva Whiteside of St. Louis, Missouri. To them, she was called by the name Puddin. 

She was joined in holy matrimony to Charlie Evans on September 23, 1963. To this union was born five children, two boys and three girls. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie; two sons, Charles and Anthony; five siblings, Elvira, Barbara, Mertha, Fred and James; two grandsons, Willie and Jeremiah. 

Joyce accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age. She was a longtime member of Mt. Airy Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Ralph McDaniel and then Rev. Dr. Charles J. Brown, Sr. During the last couple of years of her life, she became a member of the Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. F. Delano R. Benson, Jr. 

She dedicated most of her life to the Health Care Field until a back injury caused her to hang up her nursing hat. Joyce loved being the center of attention and she loved having her family around her. She was that grandma that enjoyed baking with her grandchildren, stayed up watching scary movies, singing, and dancing with them, just enjoying her babies. Joyce enjoyed throwing parties and would invite everyone she knew and they would show up and have the best time. I guess you can say she was the "hostess with the mostess". 

Joyce never met a stranger she did not make feel like family. Her love was so huge it extended to her Kennerly family (K Ave). Many would go to her for advice, shelter, and comfort. She never turned anyone away. This is how she became granny to so many.Joyce was the 'jack of all trades". Her family would tease her by calling her Bob the Builder, shady tree mechanic, Betty Crocker, and Florence Nightingale because there was nothing this woman could not do. Everybody that knew her knew she was a straight shooter. She said what she meant and meant what she said. Trust me, if you had a chance to meet her, she left an impression upon you. 

She leaves to cherish the memory of her life, four daughters, Rhonda Sipes (Allan), Estella Scott (John), Joycene Evans­Morris (Eddie), and Eva Peak; a very special nephew she raised as a son, Kenneth Whiteside (Amy); one daughter-in­law, Stella Evans; two brothers-in-law, McKinney Evans and Don Evans, three sisters-in-law, Gerrie Evans, Lizzie Evans and Ola Mae Evans; 19 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.