On November 5, 2025 Mary Joyce Pouncey Harris (84), best known as Joyce to those who loved her and knew her well, passed peacefully into eternity with her Lord and Savior, where she is now reunited with her beloved husband of 61 years, her precious daughter and many other born again loved ones who went on before her. Joyce was born in Montgomery, Alabama on May 9, 1941 to Mr. William Ravern and Mrs. Adell Goree Pouncey. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (Robbie) A. Harris Jr, her daughter Lenora Harris Neill, her sister Carrie Pouncey Elliott and her sister Martha Pouncey Pridgen. Joyce met her husband Robbie when she was 13 and he was 15. She dated his little brother Alexander, before she realized that Robbie would actually be the one to steal her heart and later would be her soulmate. Years later and after the two had dated a while, Robbie would be actively serving in our United States Navy where he would soon be needing to leave his sweetheart. He was not for one minute more going to be sent away without asking her to make a commitment to marry him, so he nervously and excitedly asked Joyce to be his wife, confident of what her answer would be. To his heartbreaking surprise, she actually turned him down that first time. Fortunately, a short while later, Robbie asked Joyce to marry him once again, she said yes and the two were wed on October 8, 1959 at Chisholm Methodist Church in Chisholm, AL. She was 18 and he was 20 at the time. It wasn't long until the two started a family where they would go on to raise 3 daughters while residing in Montgomery, AL and then later moving to Mobile, AL in 1979 until the present. Joyce was a wonderful and hardworking homemaker, who tended to the needs of her family as she kept a very tidy home. She cooked, cleaned, cared for her children tenderly when they were sick, and loved to decorate for the holidays, especially at Christmas time, and would have the entire house filled with Christmas adornments both inside and out, as well as having prepared delicious desserts to enjoy for the season. She always made it magical and memorable. Joyce also had a creative streak in arts and crafts and would create the most unique, one of a kind, intricate, handmade pieces for decorative enjoyment, gift giving or in show of support for our troops. She loved America and was very patriotic in her support. She also loved flowers, -pink being her favorite color-, had a marvelous green thumb and could beautifully care for just about any kind of plant to make it thrive. After they became empty nesters, Joyce and Robbie both loved to travel and enjoyed traveling the most in their mobile home, with their little poodles always along for the ride. They traveled often, and sometimes with friends or family, visiting many different states in our nation. Joyce has loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from a very young age and along with her husband, had faithfully attended their church -First Baptist Tillmans Corner-, as they were physically able every Sunday and Wednesday night, where they were very involved with the Senior Adults, different church activities, outreaches and the choir. Joyce loved to sing and enjoyed praising the Lord! With her husband being a vital member of a gospel quartet for many years before they moved to Mobile, called "The Believers", she always enjoyed the many gospel singings and fellowship they would have at different churches and would clap and sing her heart out at each one. It's no wonder that this love for singing that both Joyce and Robbie shared would carry on to their daughters and to their grandchildren. After Joyce lost her husband and her daughter Lenora, she looked even more forward to and would often speak of going home to heaven one day. As her daughter Andrea lovingly cared for her until her final days, she, as well as her children, would recall how every time they were with their mom/Nana, and would ask her how she was doing, she would break out into song, singing... "I'm feelin', feelin' mighty fine, I've got heaven on my mind, don't you know, I want to go where the milk and honey flow-whoa-whoa"... And another one of her favorites she would often sing is, "What a beautiful day for The Lord to come again", and as she'd continue to sing, she would change the words to say, "And I'm going to see my love where he'll meet me at the pearly gates...What a beautiful day for The Lord to take me away". She was singing those very songs just a few short months ago, prior to heaven becoming more than just a place that was "on her mind", but would finally become her eternal residence and reward. She is survived by her daughters, Andrea Harris Freeland (Ronnie) and Lelani Waltman (Mitch); her sister, Wanda Fain (Ed); her 7 grandchildren, -Brandi Waltman, Kayla Waltman, Jimmy Waltman (Becca), Dreanna Freeland Fowler (Michael), Lanae Freeland, Nathan Freeland, Christian Freeland, and her 3 Great grandchildren Brooklyn Fowler, Rhett Waltman and Baker Waltman; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Joyce will forevermore be loved and remembered by her family.*
May 9, 1941 - November 5, 2025
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 10:00-11:00, With the Celebration of Life service held at 11:00 At First Baptist Tillmans Corner 5660 Three Notch road Mobile, Al 36608 Burial and a graveside service will take place immediately afterward at Mobile Memorial Gardens
WE love Joyce and Robert. Marion and Dinah Farnell