Cover photo for Joyce A. Smithson's Obituary
1957 Joyce 2022

Joyce A. Smithson

April 10, 1957 — August 13, 2022

Brookfield, CT

Joyce Ann Smithson was born on April 10, 1957 to the late John Harvey Smithson and Hattie M. Bell Smithson in Kenbridge, Virginia.  Joyce was the 11th child and 4th daughter in her family of 15 children.  Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Evelyn Smithson Allen (brother-in-law, Richard Allen), brothers William Harvey Smithson (sister-in-law, Joyce),  John Earnest Smithson,  and sister-in-law, also named Joyce Smithson along with brother-in-law, Eugene Martin.

Joyce grew up in Lunenburg County in Virginia where she attended Lunenburg Elementary School and Central High School, both in the town of Victoria.  While in school she enjoyed various subjects, but in high school the choir was her favorite activity.  She was a member of the school choir, and upon her graduation (June 1976), she sang a solo during the graduation ceremony.

After graduation she relocated to White Plains, New York where she lived for many years.  During this time, she worked and had a beautiful daughter, Toni Smithson. She was married, and although the marriage did not last, from that marriage she had a wonderful, devoted son, Timothy H. Austin II.

Later, while working full time and taking care of her two beautiful children, Joyce went back to school to earn her degree from The College of New Rochelle.  Upon graduating, she began her career as a respected paralegal in several offices including the Westchester District Attorney office. She ended her career as a Litigation Paralegal at Boies, Schiller & Flexner, L.P. in Armonk, New York where he was employed for over 15 years.

Almost 10 years ago, Joyce was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that is treatable, but not curable.  Even with this diagnosis, she remained positive and faithful in her praise of God’s goodness.  Although she was not in the best of health, she was able to continue to work and she took on the responsibility of rearing five of her grandchildren and later enjoying visits from two additional grandchildren, all of whom she adored.

While in White Plains, Joyce became a member of the Assembly of God church, where she remained a faithful member until she moved to Connecticut.  In Connecticut she attended the Assembly of God Church where she and her grandchildren attended regularly until 2020 with the onset of COVID-19.  During times when she could not physically go out to church, she frequently watched Charles Stanley on TV, a minister whom she admired and often spoke fondly of because of his mild manner, and his seemingly love of God as expressed in his delivery of the preached word.

Joyce entered Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Ct. at the end of June 2022 where we hoped and prayed that she would recoup and return to family life. However, God had other plans and called her to rest on August 13th.  Her family is heartbroken, but we are all believers and we know that God is in control and He does not make mistakes.

Joyce leaves to cherish her sweet memory, her daughter, Toni Smithson Jones Beekman, her son, Timothy H. Austin II ( daughter-in-law, Pascale),  her grandchildren: Isaiah Smithson Reynolds, Elijah Smithson, Enori M. Jones, Joshua Jones, MaKai Jones, Timothy H. Austin Ill, and Juliette A. Austin.  She also leaves six brothers: Richard (Rochelle), Curtis (Linda), McCral, Ronnie, Cedric (Cynthia) and Edwin Smithson, along with five sisters: Shirley Smithson-Martin, Delois Hazelwood (Chester), Rosa Elizabeth Richardson (Maurice), Mary V. Smithson Johnson (John) , and Edna Smithson.  Her siblings are spread among three states:  New York, Maryland, and Virginia.  In addition, she leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, best friend Dorothy Weyhausen of No. White Plains, N.Y., a special friend Brenda Brown of Richmond, VA., and many others.  We all loved Joyce and she will be missed immensely.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce A. Smithson, please visit our flower store.

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Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services

2 Maple Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601

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