Joyce Frye

1944 ­– 2023

Heaven gained a great Angel on August 4, 2023. Joyce Ann Tillman Frye was called home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Joyce was born in Quentin, Mississippi to Arsenious and Myrtis Tillman on September 8, 1944. She was the 7th born of 8 children. Joyce was raised in Mississippi until her parents moved to Utah while Joyce was still in elementary school. Joyce continued her education while being raised in Anchorage, graduating in the first graduating class at Clearfield High School in 1963, where she was a Student Body Officer, Cheerleader and President of the Pep Club. Joyce would continue her education at Weber State College, now known as Weber State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, while also playing basketball at the college where she earned several All-Star awards. Joyce went into the workforce and became a leader, which was just natural for her in every place she worked. She worked at Job Corp in her early career in Clearfield, Utah working in personnel. Joyce then decided to step up and out, and took a position in Albany, Georgia with Job Corp, where she was very instrumental in helping open The Turner Job Corp center. Joyce then was offered to be Head of Personnel at Thiokol back in Utah, a position that she felt was right for her and it gave her a chance to move back home. This position was so special to her because not only was she one of the first female managers at Thiokol, but she was also the first African American female with that job title. This trend would continue as she then would leave Thiokol to work at Volvo White Trucking Company where she was the first female and first African American female at the corporation in becoming the Director of Personnel which led her to the Volvo White Corporate Office in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she eventually retired. She felt she was able to do what she said was her calling but also her duty to help the Black community obtain employment. She would say to her kids, “May dad always told me when you get the opportunity, and you will get one you make sure that you give others opportunities as well”. She so lived up to this during her career. During her time in the workforce, Joyce was given 20 different awards on the local and state level. She was awarded the Governor’s Sojourner Truth award twice for her work in the community, she was so proud of this honor. After retiring from the workforce for a few years, she decided to go help her sister Shirley with her company Tillman Tax, which she did for over 20 years. This gave her a chance to help people which was her calling and it also have her the opportunity to be with her sister for 6 months every year, as well as allowing her to see and talk with her niece Felicia during her time in California.

Joyce was married to Richard Frye for 10 years and through this union was born two children: Derek and Tricia. Derek and Tricia became Joyce’s joy and those two became lucky enough to have their greatest friend for over 50 years.

Joyce’s greatest love and her greatest asset as a person was her love for her God, her family and friends. Over the last 8 years of her life after her stroke, it seemed as though Joyce enjoyed life even more. It made her day to speak to her friends on the phone or have them come visit. Her love for her family was incredible!! She loved her siblings so much, they were her best friends. Her late brothers thought she was something. Her sisters Dot, Addie and Shirley were her light as she lit up every time she spoke with them either in person or on the phone. She also loved her visits with sister-cousin Lovey. With these 4 they would talk, argue, pray and of course solve the problems of the free world or at least Joyce thought so. She was the leader of the group, and let you know it. She also so enjoyed her visits with Reverend Boyer to pray or just to talk, and her visits with the Tuckers; Mary-Bell and Tommie. She enjoyed arguing and talking with her nephew Larry about the NBA or listening to her niece Sue come over to tell her stories to make her laugh. Joyce’s love with God and her faith never wavered. She was a God-fearing woman, and her faith was unquestioned. Once she had her stroke, she never complained or asked why. She would just say God makes no mistakes and he knew I could handle this. She also so loved New Zion Baptist Church and her church family.

The love of Joyce’s life though was her kids and grandchildren. Her kids Derek and Tricia were so special to her. She never judged them and took care of them with her love, advice, and all things until her last breath. She and Tricia shared a special bond, love and relationship, especially the last 8 years where they saw each other almost every day. Her love for her grandchildren was very special and they each had their own special bond with her. They were the apples of her eyes and the diamonds in her heart. She would always tell them; you can do anything and now GO BE GREAT!! She would always let them know to be good and that she loved them when she talked to them.

Joyce leaves behind to continue her legacy her children Derek of Vernal, Utah and Tricia Broadnax of South Ogden, Utah; grandchildren, her boys as she would call them Kellen Broadnax of South Ogden Utah and DJ Frye of Gilbert, Arizona, her pretty girls Faith Frye and Hannah Frye of South Ogden, Utah. She also leaves behind her jewels, her sisters Dorothy (Dot) Holtston of Ogden, Utah, Addie (Lowell) Norling of Syracuse, Utah and Shirley (Leroy) Tillman Walker of Richmond, California. She is also survived by her sister cousin Lovey (Vernon) Hairston of West Haven, Utah, as well as a host of nephews, nieces and cousins who she loved dearly. She is also survived by special friends Reverend Michelle Boyer, The Tuckers, Tommie and Mary-Bell, Queen Dorby and Charlean Wilson, and other friends throughout the United States.

The family would like to hank Dr. Casey Stelter, Dr. Brittany Gardner, and the staff of the U of U Stroke Rehabilitation Center, the staff of the Rocky Mountain Rehabilitation and of course Ogden Regional Medical Center for everything they did with our mom the last 8 years.

We would also like to thank everyone for their kindness and condolences through this trying time.

Services for Joyce will be Saturday, August 12, 2023, 11:00 a.m. with a viewing prior 10-11 a.m. at New Zion Baptist Church, 2935 Lincoln Ave., Ogden, UT. There will also be a viewing Friday, 6-8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden, UT.