Joyce Marie Strong Smith, daughter of the late Kathyrn Strong and Ernest Torrence was born on August 27, 1941 at Philadelphia General Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Joyce was the oldest of two children. She received her formal education in the Philadelphia School System.

On December 20, 1961, Joyce was united in holy matrimony to Larry Lewis Smith, Sr. and out of this union three children were born: Kathy, Larry, Jr., and Shannon.

Joyce or "Mae Mae" as her family so loved to call her, was family oriented and very passionate about her husband, children and sister Bobbie. Joyce had a beautiful personality; she was a loving, kind, unselfish person not just to her family but to everyone who she knew. It was nothing for Joyce to open up her home and prepare lavish luncheons and dinners for those she knew and loved, for Joyce loved people and enjoyed entertaining in her home.

January 1981, she dedicated her life to Jehovah and served as a pioneer in the Philadelphia PA area for fifteen years full time service. She relocated from Philadelphia, PA to Louisa County, Virginia and became a member of the of the Mineral congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses where she served faithfully until her death. Moving from the city to the country in August 1997 at first was challenging but with time she grew to love the country and her new found spiritual brothers and sisters. Joyce endured her trials and tribulations with great endurance with the help of her special friends. Joyce's main concern was to remain faithful to the end and give witness to all of her onlookers especially her family.

Joyce leaves to cherish her loving memories: husband, Larry; four children, Kathy, Larry Jr., Shannon and Constance; two sisters, Barbara Merriweather and husband Richard, Celeste Riley and husband Tommy of North Carolina; one brother, Ernest Torrence and wife, Yvette of Philadelphia, PA; brothers and sisters in law, Matthew (Matt) Smith, Bernice (BB) Smith, Margaret Smith, Robert (Bob)and Doris Rucker, Harry (Merdy)and Sarah Smith, Nora and Melvin (Toole) Robinson, Ada and Warren Whitley, Jordinia (Tudy) and Rainey Chandler , Bettina (Tina) Smith; two sons in law, James Workman and Sebastian Tanner; grandchildren, Jamel Smith, James (Boobee) Workman, Shaneece (Neenee) Workman, Dwayne Smith; great grandchildren, James (Tank) Lewis, Jr., Tavon (Boink) Walker and Tazjaure Smith,; neices, Tonya Hayden and husband Randy and Gail Evans; nephew, Ricky Merriweather and wife Tia. In addition, she leaves, Jocelyn Egleton (US Army, Iraq), James Evans and Amina Merriweather; a host of other neices, nephews and friends as well as her cat, Dora and her birth, Birdy.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 15405 Cross County Road (Rt. 522), Mineral, Virginia.