Mrs. Joyce Mae Bowie Rayner

Joyce Mae Bowie Rayner was born on April 27, 1950, in Grady, Arkansas; the ninth

of fifteen children born to Abraham and Mary Bowie, Sr.

Joyce was baptized early in life at her home church, Paradise Missionary Baptist

Church in Grady, Arkansas. Joyce attended Kennedy High School and made history

by transferring to Grady High School in 1966 to become one of the first black

students to integrate an all-white school. Upon graduating in 1968, Joyce moved

to Pine Bluff, Arkansas to attend AM&N College where she met her college

sweetheart, Jerry Rayner, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary

Education in 1972.

Joyce began her teaching career in Michigan and after a year there, became a

military spouse when she married Jerry in 1973 and moved to California. While

there, they welcomed their son, Brian, in 1977.

A lifelong learner, Joyce continued her education at the University of California at

San Bernadino, the University of Colorado, and when the family moved to Bossier

City, Louisiana in 1993, Joyce obtained her Master of Arts degree from Centenary

College in Shreveport.

Not only was Joyce a lifelong learner, her passion for education was also evident as

a teacher. During her 37 years as an elementary school teacher, Joyce taught in

three states and in Ankara, Turkey; twenty-two of those years at her beloved Shreve

Island Elementary.

Joyce lived a life filled with love - love for her family and friends. She prided

herself on attending her grandchildren’s athletic activities and watching Brian coach

various sports. She loved vacationing with her family, including cruising

internationally with Jerry, and treasured a special trip to Hawaii with her sisters in

2013. She was a faithful member of Shady Grove Baptist Church where she

worshipped and shared God’s love. She also loved spending quality time with her

friends and did not mind a shopping spree from time to time.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Jerry Rayner; parents,

Abraham and Mary Bowie, Sr.; siblings: Betty Conaway, Shirley Stubblefield,

Abraham Bowie, Jr., Helen Powell, and Henry Bowie.

Joyce leaves to treasure her persuasive nature, sense of humor, detailed oriented

style, and her passion for education, to her son, Brian Rayner (Rona); grandchildren:

Makayla, Christion, and Peyton – of Bossier City, Louisiana; sisters: Maryland

Wynne, Carolyn McReynolds, Deborah White (Henry) of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and

Willie Featherstone (Willie) of Monroe, North Carolina; brother in law, Havis

Stubblefield, also of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She leaves cousins, nephews, nieces,

special grandchildren and friends to cherish her memory

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Joyce Mae Bowie Rayner, please visit our floral store.