Joyce M. Barnes

is honored with a Brick from Howard Barnes.

Joyce Barnes has been my wife for almost 40 years. During that time, and before, her accomplishments in the home, church, the community, the academic arena, and the workplace represent a life of genuine heroism.

For the first five years of our marriage, Joyce was the principal breadwinner for our family, enabling me to complete my undergraduate degree. After my graduation, Joyce was a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker for several years. During this time, she also was a foster mother, caring for a total of 19 foster children. Later, she re-entered the paid workforce, making every aspect of our marriage a true partnership.

In churches, in the various cities where we have lived, Joyce has, at different times, acted as Choir Director, Organist, Pianist, and director of church dramas. She has also served on a number of church committees and boards.

Joyce served for a period of time as Volunteer Chairman of the North St. Louis County, Missouri Meals on Wheels program. This meant recruiting and organizing a large number of drivers and other volunteers; and frequently included acting as a last-minute replacement, when a driver had an unforeseen problem. At these times, our then two-year-old son would ride along and usually carry the meals into the homes.

After one year at Ottawa University, Joyce interrupted her academic studies for marriage. Later, she earned an associate degree as a Library Technical Assistant from Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis County, Missouri. After we moved to Wichita, Joyce enrolled at Wichita State University and completed a second associate degree as a Legal Assistant. She is currently enrolled at WSU, with a personal goal of completing a Bachelors degree.

When working to supply needed financial support for the family, Joyce held such jobs as waitress, dishwasher, doughnut frier, and clerk-typist. After receiving her Library Technical Assistant degree, she was employed at the Ferguson Public Library, in Ferguson, Missouri, for five years. In Wichita, Joyce has been employed as a Data Entry Clerk, Legal Secretary, and Church Secretary. She worked in the Legal Department at Boeing Wichita for five years. Joyce is now a Library Assistant at WSU's Ablah Library. Her other status as a student helps in relating to other students, both as patrons and as workers in the library. Several of the international students she has supervised refer to her as "My American Mom."

Setting goals and continuing to work toward them, helping to meet needs, making the best of changing situations, and maintaining a sense of humor, these are the things which make Joyce Barnes a genuine heroine.

Submitted by Howard Barnes

June 2, 1998