Joyce B. (Brown) Kirkley

Joyce Ann Brown Kirkley passed away peacefully with family at her side at the age of 89. She is preceded by her beloved husband, Rev. Robert Glasgow Kirkley; by her parents, Benjamin Herbert Brown and Ann Oldham Brown of Baltimore; and by an infant son, Barry Kirkley. She is survived by her two children, Beth and Bob, and her three grandchildren, Erin, Ethan, and Silvio. She is also survived by her sister- and brother-in-law, Flora and Stuart Auld, her daughter-in-law, Margret Kirkley, as well as many nieces and nephews. In accordance with her final wishes, her funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Friday, October 14th, 2022, at White Haven Church in Church Creek, Maryland.

Joyce was born March 1, 1933, in Baltimore, Maryland and traveled often with her parents. Her faith in God and dedication to her family formed the nucleus of her adult life. She raised her children with patience and dedication, investing her time in their meals and studies. She attended school meetings and sang in the choir, all while pursuing her second calling, teaching. Her career spanned decades within the public school system.

After graduating Western High School in Baltimore in 1951, she attended Goucher College and earned her B.A. in English. Upon completion of her degree, she and Robert married in 1955 and Joyce continued to teach within Baltimore area schools. The next decades of their marriage saw the birth of their children, her promotion to principal of Homewood School, and the completion of her advanced Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland in 1984.

She then served as a reading specialist and an English teacher to all levels of public-school students in St. Mary's County, Maryland, until her retirement. After retirement the couple relocated to the Eastern Shore where Joyce pursued another career venture as a real estate agent. It was here that she met many fantastic people that enriched her life for decades to come.

Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Young Life, P.O. Box 1243 Cambridge, MD 21613.