Obituary of Joyce S Oates

Joyce S. Oates, the fifth child of seven children, was born on April 16, 1942 in Tuscumbia Alabama to the late Dave and Mary Alice Simmons.  Joyce grew up in a loving household where she learned how to cook, clean and put family first.

At an early age, Joyce played as a tom boy with her brother Harold Simmons (Simmonroll).  She enjoyed sharing stories about how mischievous the two peas in the pod were.  Joyce was educated in the Tuscumbia Public School System and graduated from Trenholm High School in 1961.  Joyce was the Homecoming Queen for two consecutive years.  She was popular, outgoing, and genuinely cared for people.  She was a true lady and emulated her style after Jacqueline Kennedy.

Joyce was able to  love people because of her true relationship with God.  In fact, in her early teens, she went to Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church under the teachings of Renerend Cable.

In 1960, Joyce joined First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Sheffield, AL, under the tutelage of Elder Leo Stanley.  Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was filled with the Holly Ghost while attending church.  She joined Prophetic Apostolic Church in 1962, under the pastorship of the late Bishop John I.Carr, Sr.  She was ordained as a Mother in 2007 by her current Pastor, Bishop James A. Brickhouse, Jr.  She loved her pastor and her church.  She has been a dedicated member for over 50 years.

On June 5, 1962, Joyce was united in marriage to the love of her life, the late Patrick Dan Oates, Sr. From this beautiful union, two children were born: Patrick Jr., and Timothy Ray.  The family resided in West Oak Lane, Philadelphia from 1963-1973.  In 1973, the Oates family moved to Atco, New Jersey and resided there for over 50 years.  The Oates family became a strong pillar in Ivy Stone.  Joyce kept the family together both spiritually and physically.  She made sure they had what they needed and wanted.  Joyce took pride in caring for her husband and two children.  She worked as a factory worker for Keebler Cookies in Philadelphia, Pa and Kellogg's in Blue Anchor, New Jersey.  Joyce was known for her hard work, laughter and for speaking her mind.  Joyce truly enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother (granny), sister, aunt, neighbor and friend to everyone who knew her.  She was known for her unselfish, kind ways.  She was compassionate, wise and generous.  Joyce was a dependable friend and confidant,  She always went the extra mile for anyone.

Joyce Loved her family and was a great godly woman, who not only loved her children but adored her grandchildren.  She meant a great deal to her family and will always be cherished in their hearts.  Joyce opened her heart and home to all that knew her.  She was a "mom" to everyone in the neighborhood.  She had a way of making you feel that everthing was going to be alright. She was a gem and a rare Woman of God!

Joyce enjoyed cooking and was famous for her scrumptions 3rd Sunday family dinners, her broccli rade, baked macaroni and cheese, and her Dr. Bird cakes.  She also loved playing her Gospel Music, working in her garden, feeding her fish, and playing with her cat "Meeshack."

Joyce had a great sense of humor and was known for her many phrases: "i'm coming along pretty good", "testify talk to me", "well then, alrighty then", "I'm just piddling around", "treat them with a long handled spoon" and " Happy Birthday to me!"

She leaves to cherish her memories: her children , Patrick Dan Oates, Jr. (Javon, Sicklerville), Timothy Ray ( Theresa, Williamstown), "Daugther", Paula Gonzalea (Arman, Texas).  She also leaves two sister, Olivia Simmons (of Tuscumbia) and Blinda Gail Nall (of Tuscumbia), Three brothers, Carl Simmons (Jean, of Muscle Shoals), Harold Simmons ( Bessie, of Tuscumbia), David Simmons (of Tuscumbia), one sister-in-law, Patricia Jackson ( John, of Florence) Three brothers-in-law, Frank Oates (Gail, of Philadelphia), Bruce Oates ( the late Karen, of Clementon), Oliver Oates (Mildred, of Philadelphia), 3 grandchildren, Dylan, Sahara, Anaria, three adopted grandsons (Justin, Brandon, and Conner), Godmother, Mother Virginia Carr, 8 god-children, Elvin & Elexzena McKnight, Kevin, Lawrence Carr, Jr., Christina, Jason, Jasson Dumas and God- granddaughter, Joy Dumas both of Yakima, Washington.  Cousins (who battled cancer with her) Pat Brewer, Oppia Berk,  Marsha Ricks, uncle Theordore Ricks (Bobby, of Cleveland), a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Dave and Mary Simmons and her sister Willa Dean Oates, her nephews Isaiah Carter, Jr. (Bug) and Israel Carter-Davis.

Patrick Sr. predeceased Joyce on Feb. 1998 after thirty-five years of marriage. On  June 4, 2017, Joyce departed this life after defeating cancer.  She is now with the love of her life and they celebrated their wedding anniversary with the Lord on June 5, 2017.  Joyce is absent from her body but Present with her LORD!

Respectfully submitted, 

The Family