Community celebrates the life and times of Joyce Smith

Comments from loyal readers provide inspiration that drives newspaper columnists to carry on. One person who regularly offered encouraging words in my direction was the late Joyce Marie Buckholtz Smith of Morehead City, N.C.

How fitting that she departed this world on Feb. 14, 2025. Joyce was everybody’s Valentine. Love seeped from every pore of her existence, and its sweet scent clung to those in her presence and in her thoughts.

 

Many of her friends and associates who connected with Joyce during her professional career, which spanned approximately 25 years at Carteret Community College, offered online condolences, expressing their heartfelt memories of treasured time spent with Joyce Smith.

DBW described Joyce Smith this way: “Always a joy to be around, a helpmate, a confidant….If she was your friend, you never had to question her loyalty. She accepted that people had differences and honored their opinions. ‘What would the world be if everyone was the same?’ was one of her sayings.”

LWM, another online contributor, said: “Sunflowers symbolize loyalty and adoration. And, because of their association with the sun, sunflowers are well known for being happy flowers, the perfect bloom for delivery to brighten someone’s mood! That was Joyce Marie Smith, a SUNFLOWER.”

As past president and longtime member of the North Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals, “she offered her friendship quickly and ALL that came with it…emotional support and encouragement. As her friend, you experienced Chemistry, Commonality, Courtesy and Commitment. ALL of which was wrapped in pure LOVE for everyone – a virtue….Thank you, Joyce, for being your authentic self.”

JAA offered: “Joyce was such a beautiful person with such a sweet soul. We shared a friendship of laughter.”

DN mentioned that Joyce Smith also served as an elections’ official in Carteret County: “Joyce was particularly gifted with the technology and was open and helpful with all her experience. She also took joy in feeding our team excellent breakfast foods and snacks and the best sausage biscuits!! I miss her smile and kindnesses.”

And all Joyce’s fellow members of the Sisters in Christ Bible Study group at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church rose in unison to say “Amen.”

Joyce Smith’s wardrobe included a passel of brightly colored and often whimsical yet stylish outfits that exuded happiness and a carefree attitude. Her collection of women’s headwear was both extensive and borderline bizarre.

It comes as no surprise that Joyce would take The Red Hat Society by storm…and advance to become its “queen” leader. The worldwide membership society encourages women to pursue “Fun, Friendship, Freedom, Fitness and the Fulfillment of lifelong dreams.” Joyce checked all those boxes.

Joyce earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from what is now the University of Mount Olive (Mount Olive, N.C.). She also listed earning a “Ph.D. degree in scrapbooking,” which she parlayed into an independent business named Close To My Heart Training.

Joyce served several years as an adjunct instructor at Carteret Community College, teaching enrichment classes in scrapbooking, card making, stamping and crafts, while showing her students how to make calendars, gift cards, recipe boxes and books, journals and other hand-crafted items.

 

Joyce Smith’s sense of humor had a magnetic effect. One church chum commented: “You never knew for sure if Joyce was joshing with you and pulling your leg, but that was part of the fun-loving and mischievous nature that was rolled into her DNA.”

Perhaps her pastor – the Rev. Karl Zorowski – said it best: “Joyce was a grand lady. Her life impacted so many people, and she made this world a better place.”

Memories of Joyce Smith floated through the sanctuary

While summarizing the many attributes of the late Joyce Marie Buckholtz Smith (1952-2025) during a special memorial service held on March 1 at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Morehead City, N.C., Pastor Karl Zorowski referenced Joyce’s adherence to what is sometimes called “John Wesley’s Rule of Life.”

Wesley (1703-91) was a prominent English theologian and evangelist who was a principal leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. His teachings continue to inspire disciples of Methodism in the United States and throughout the world.

 

Wesley advised: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.”

Joyce Smith did just that until her very last breath, Rev. Zorowski said.

She made time for others and showered them with her compassion and support, he said. When times were difficult, “Joyce never crumbled; she never complained. A sense of joy defined her.”

She took God’s gift of life and lived it well, with laughter, Rev. Zorowski added. God’s grace overflowed within her, as she demonstrated God’s love for humanity through her actions in this world. Joyce now enjoys eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Speaking for the family, Joyce’s son James Brown said his mother truly enjoyed hosting and entertaining family and friends. A home-cooked meal was always included, complete with her instructions: “If you leave hungry, it’s your own fault.”

He also referred to his mother’s passion for crafting and tendency to amass a vast inventory of supplies. Folks knew “if Hobby Lobby didn’t have it,” all you had to do was dial up Joyce Smith.

 

One of Joyce Smith’s former colleagues from Carteret Community College acknowledged that she had relocated to Morehead City from “Off.” Joyce agreed to mentor this woman to help her become wise in southern ways.

The speaker said it took her quite some time to figure out that Joyce’s frequent utterings of “Bless Your Heart” had a double meaning...with one just dripping with sarcasm.