In Memory of Joyce Murray




I’ve been avoiding writing this post for several days – especially since within the last year I have lost four people near and dear to my heart with my mother, Carline N. Curtis, being one of them. It is still hard for me to admit that my mother is gone. Therefore, I just couldn’t muster up the strength to write this post until now because it pains me too much to even say that Joyce Murray, Mama Joyce as I affectionately called her and who was like a second mother to me, has passed away.

Mama Joyce was a phenomenal woman with great faith, strength and love. She TRULY loved everyone she came in contact with and demonstrated that love on so many levels. When you were in Mama Joyce’s presence you walked away feeling loved and encouraged to keep pressin’ on no matter what you were going through. And, when it came to cooking, Mama Joyce was indeed one of the best cooks in the world with Monkey Bread being one of her signature desserts. I can vividly remember talking to her on a few occasions about what kinds of seasonings she used to cook her food because no matter what she cooked it was delicious!! In addition, Mama Joyce could sure nuff preach!!!

I am thankful that God allowed me to meet Mama Joyce’s son, Glenn Murray, about seventeen years or so ago when we used to work together in corporate America and until this day he is a great friend of mine. Shortly after meeting Glenn, I was introduced to his wonderful mother and have been connected to her ever since that time. One thing about Mama Joyce that I loved so much is how she always talked so highly of her one and only child, Glenn. She was always saying how proud she was of him and how much she truly LOVED her baby. 

Mama Joyce considered one of my closest and dearest friends, Barbara Keaton Stubblefield, and me as her prodigal daughters “who don’t play well in the sandbox with others” (her joke for Barbara and I). Knowing that Mama Joyce is no longer with us brings me great sadness and has caused me to shed many tears. Mama Joyce thank you for taking me under your wings as one of your daughters. I will forever cherish our good times together, deep conversations and the words of wisdom that you shared with me.

God always knows what we need when we need it and He knew during this journey in my life that I needed to meet and connect with Glenn so that I could meet his wonderful mother. I’m SO glad that I did! Actually, I’m thankful to God that I met them both because Glenn has been a blessing in my life as well. 

I am now about to chill out, rest my mind and get ready for bed because tomorrow I will be attending the services to celebrate Mama Joyce’s life.

RIP Mama Joyce. I love and miss you.


p.s. Glenn, THANK YOU for sharing your mother with me and so many others.


©Copyright Carla J. Curtis
April 2016



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