Joice Anne Oliver Franklin, 90, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Sept. 13, 2021 in her beloved Gloucester County, Virginia. Born in Gloucester on Dec. 27, 1930, Joice grew up in Coke and graduated from Botetourt High School. She married her husband, William, at Fort DeRussy Chapel in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joice attended nursing school and worked for Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Naval Academy Preparatory School, United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Al Batin Academy. She visited all 50 states and traveled extensively around the world. In Maryland, she was a dedicated volunteer at Deerfield Run Elementary School and the non-profit organization Help Laurel. She also served as District Governor of District 36 Toastmasters. During her four years in Saudi Arabia, she served as president of the Women’s Club. Upon her husband’s retirement, Joice moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she and her husband enjoyed many more years of love and laughter. Wherever she went, she found a way to help others. Joice also excelled at everything she did. She was skilled at diamond cutting, cabochon, quilting, basketry, macramé, cake decorating, drawing, watercolor painting, and oil painting. Joice had a way of turning everyone she met into family because she genuinely connected with them. She taught her children how to make their own fun, how to laugh when they wanted to cry, and how to love unconditionally. She will be remembered for her strong, independent spirit, her boundless supply of energy, and her ability to brighten the lives of everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, William Wyatt Franklin; her parents, Harry and Edna (Deal) Oliver of Gloucester. She is survived by her children, Samuel Hilliard of Newport News, Va., Scarlet Hilliard of Newport News, Tutti Hilliard (Laurie) of Gloucester, Mitchell Hilliard (Susan) of Gloucester, James Hilliard (Wendy) of Gloucester, Harry Hilliard (Dawn) of Frederick, Md., and Joice Marie Higa (Kevin) of Las Vegas; her loving grandchildren; great-grandchildren, and many close friends. The family received friends Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at 11 o’clock in Rosewell Memorial Garden Cemetery. The family requests memorial contributions in Joice’s name to Beech Grove Baptist Church, P.O. Box 468, White Marsh, Va. 23183.

Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.