Marion “Joyce” Finch was born September 23, 1938, in Dyer, Tennessee to Floyd and Virgie Shanklin and had an older sister, Maggie. She attended a small country school in first grade and started Dyer Elementary School in second grade. She graduated from Dyer High School as valedictorian in 1956. Joyce was a cheerleader. As a senior, she was class treasurer, editor of the yearbook, selected as Most Studious, and was the recipient of the DAR Good Citizenship Award. Joyce attended what was then known as Memphis State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in three years with a degree in business education. Joyce taught at Sacred Heart High school, Frayser Elemetary, Sherwood Junior High, Overton High, Hamilton High and taught at Raleigh Egypt High School for the last 20+ years of her professional career. While at Raleigh Egypt, she taught business courses and sponsored the yearbook and the newspaper.

She married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Finch, in 1958. Joyce and Wayne had two sons who she adored, David and Chris. She was always present at all their events cheering them on whether it involved academics or sports.

Joyce was thrilled when her granddaughter Victoria was born and equally ecstatic several years later when her grandsons Ethan and Carson were born. She loved spending time with all three of them. Victoria called her Grandmother and the boys called her Honey. And then came her great-grandson Benjamin, another child to love and cherish. Joyce was especially close to her niece Vicky whom she loved as a daughter and had a special place in her heart for her daughter-in-law Andrea.

Joyce was a member of the Covenant Baptist Church where she had the opportunity to worship her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She valued dearly her many friends at church and remembered fondly her friends from Raleigh Egypt.

Joyce loved to read, shop, attend U of M basketball games, and play games on her tablet. She and Wayne enjoyed travelling, especially to Hawaii and Alaska. She surprised everyone, especially her sons, when she went parasailing in Hawaii and dog sledding in Alaska.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to St. Jude Research Hospital or Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in her honor.