Joyce Elaine Taggart, born on August 9th, 1944, to the late Elizabeth Smith, was the proud mother of four beautiful, caring, and loving children – Roderick Cornelias Taggart, Darlene Elizabeth White, Brian Anthony Pruitt, and the late Bennett Dwayne Marable. Joyce’s love for her family was not just a cornerstone of her life, but a testament to the depth of her affection and care.

Joyce was baptized at an early age at Nazareth First Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina, her birth town. She graduated from Stephens Lee High School in 1962 and went on to attend Winston Salem State University to pursue a degree in nursing.

She then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to help her beloved sister Dorothy Hancock and brother-in-law Charles care for her nieces and nephews, Bertrand and Charlene. She and Dorothy then shared pregnancies together, and Joyce had her firstborn Roderick, one month before Dorothy had Charlotte. Shortly after coming to Cleveland, she met John Otis Marable, who became the love of her life and swept her off her feet. John Otis married her and accepted her unborn child, Roderick, as his own. Thereafter, Bennett and Darlene were born to this union. John Otis also blessed Joyce with many bonus children, who she always accepted and loved as her own: John, Jr. (Felicia), Rodney Reese, the late Michelle, Micheal, Constance (Dunn), Senorita, Angela (Keenan), Chana, Raythion, and Aieshya.

Years after being divorced, Joyce met and fell in love with James Pruitt, who became the father of her youngest son, Brian Pruitt. James and Joyce were a fun loving couple who enjoyed having a good time with family and friends at fun-filled cabarets and taking road trips on James’ Harley Davidson motorcycle.

At the age of 20, Joyce started her 32-year career with the Veteran’s Administration “V.A.,” a role that reflected her nurturing nature as she cared for disabled veterans. After sustaining a head injury during a violent incident at work, she left the Brecksville location, transferring closer to home to the Wade Park location in Cleveland. After a few years at Wade Park, she retired at the age of 52. Joyce then became a homecare nurse for Geric Home Care, continuing her role as a caregiver for sick and disabled individuals in their homes. She then decided to spend time caring for her grandchildren and opened a licensed daycare in her home. After a few years, eager to step back into the workplace, she became a cashier at the Walmart in Macedonia, where she became known as “Granny” to the staff, her grandchildren’s friends, and what seemed like the entire community. She accepted everyone as her family and never met anyone- adult or child, who did not eventually end up calling her “Ma,” “Mamma Joyce,” or “Granny.” After Walmart, Joyce finished her career caring for children at Judah’s Pride Daycare Center. She will be missed by many!

Joyce is survived by her children Roderick, Darlene (Sheldon), and Brian; daughter-in-law Renee Rivera-Marable; grandchildren Brandon, Tiera (Kyle), Markita (Khalil), Tatyana, Mariah (Christina), Marrianna, Rysheeta, and Amari; great-grandchildren- Kason, Moriah, Karter, Kyle, Kani, and Journey; her sisters Carolyn Smith and Gloria Parks; her nieces and nephews Bertrand, Charlene, Charlotte, Doreen, Talia, Angie (Alfred), Levon, Audrey, Roberta (Jeffrey), Wanda, Dwayne (aka Tater); her step-children (named above); and all of her bonus grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including but not limited to Devonte, LeTrel, Cherrell, TJ, Amber, Kneiarya, Ahna’liece, Raythion Jr., Kayla, Harlem, Elijah, and JaKobe.

Joyce passed away at McGregor Home on Sunday, August 25th, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Eddie Smith and Buddy Boyd, her sister Dorothy Hancock, her bonus daughter Michelle, and her son Bennett.