Joyce E. (Henson) Epps

A Life of Warmth and Grace

There are souls who enter this world with open hearts filled with love, and Joyce Elizabeth Epps was one of them. Born in Washington, D.C., on a winter’s day in 1945, she carried the radiant strength of her late parents, Alfreda Futrell and Edward Henson. She grew up under the watchful eye of her beloved late grandmother, Ma Lizzy, with grace, humor, and a gift for making others feel at home —a light she shared all her life.

Her Path and Purpose

Joyce attended Margaret Mary Washington and went on to earn her cosmetology license in the 1970s, turning beauty into both a craft and a ministry of care. Later, she found her calling in service, working for the United States Postal Service until she gave birth to her two beautiful daughters — Juana Maria Esindu and Shari Michelle Lee Kearney.

She eventually returned to the federal workforce, she brought her warmth and wisdom to the Department of Energy Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she became the Training Coordinator. She guided others and helped build federal workers' skills, running the main training center and leaving an indelible mark on everyone who passed through her doors.

Joyce retired from the Federal Government in her fifties due to a medical disability, but her spirit never retired. She remained a teacher, a nurturer, and a steady light for her family and friends. She made her home at Evergreen Senior Apartments in Baltimore, Maryland, where her laughter filled the halls and her kindness stretched far beyond her door.

Faith, Family, and the Joy of Living

Joyce followed the Catholic faith her entire life. As a young woman, she dreamed of becoming a nun, but instead chose the sacred calling of motherhood, where she fulfilled her life as a devoted and loving mother.

She believed deeply in seeking and telling the truth, in loving fully, and in the kind of hugs that could heal the soul. Family was her compass, and her love extended to everyone she met, which is why she never met a stranger for long. Her favorite greeting was a warm, familiar “Hi baby, how are you doing?”, and when she said it, you felt seen.

Joyce was strong and soft at the same time, a woman of quiet resilience and radiant compassion. She loved playing card games, painting, and crafting, finding beauty and laughter in the simple joys of life. Her sense of humor could light up a room, her smile could calm a storm, and her faith anchored her through every season.

She would often say, “I love my girls, they mean the world to me. I prayed and prayed, and God blessed me.”

Extending Her Love 

She extended that love to all of her children's friends and her younger co-workers, like Erik Young (Jolita Young) and Reggie Brown, giving each one love, smiles, and laughter. They became her kids, too, and affectionately called her mommy or auntie. Her extended family visited her and called her on the phone, often driving hours to Baltimore to see her and check on her well-being, and they returned her kindness. 

A Heart That Never Ran Out of Room

Joyce was known for her loving heart, the kind that never ran out of room. She never met a stranger; once you met her, you became family. She would welcome you, feed you, listen to you, and love you as her own.

Her presence was a comfort, her laughter a melody, and her spirit, a home that lives on in us all. She leaves behind not just memories, but lessons in love: to greet the world with open arms, to find joy in giving, and to make every soul feel seen.

Her family and friends take solace in knowing that her light is eternal. Her rest is peaceful, and her love like her remains unforgettable.

Her Family and Her Legacy

She is survived by her loving daughters Juana Maria Esindu (Donaldson Esindu) and Shari Michelle Lee Kearney (David Lee Kearney); her devoted husband Joseph Epps; her son through marriage Lionel Murray, Sr.; and her precious grandchildren — North Elizujuan Lee Kearney, Trey Kearney, and Dasia Proctor.

Her love continues through her nieces Sharon Hodge and Katrine Rush; her nephew Lincoln “Tony” Brown; her great-niece Shaelin Rush; and her great-nephew Deion Rush Hodge. She is also cherished by her beloved Aunt Vondell Ward, her cousins Robert Faulkner, Jeri Weeks, Corbin Patterson, and Maurice Hodge, along with a host of young third-generation cousins and Lancaster nieces and nephews in love, who adored her deeply.

Her Favorite Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 1704 Old Eastern Ave., Essex, MD 21221 on Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at 10 am. Visiting hours will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church from 9 - 10 am.

Interment private

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.