Joyce (Parks) Shores

Kathleen “Joyce” Shores, 96, wife of the late Robert L. Shores and lifelong resident of Tangier Island, VA, passed away at her home on Saturday, February 18, 2023 with her loving family by her side. Born September 10, 1926 on Tangier, she was the daughter of the late Roland and Estelle Parks.

Joyce filled many roles throughout her life and always with her family and her community in mind. During World War II she worked in a factory in Baltimore, MD. Upon her return home, she got married and started her family. As the years passed, she became known as the island’s Avon lady, having provided essential beauty products to residents for more than 30 years. Those who knew Joyce best knew her favorite ‘work’ days were those spent working alongside her husband at the crab house. She was committed to giving back and bettering her community. Joyce played a key role in advocating the ferry route from Onancock to Tangier in the late ‘70s. Over the years, she gave back in countless ways, but especially enjoyed her many years on the homecoming committee. She loved working with the kids in the recreation center and thanks to Joyce, the dance hall was always a fun place to hang out and share her love of music and dance with the island kids. 

The kind of person everyone enjoyed being around, Joyce was feisty, witty, comical, and full of personality. Among her many talents, few could rival her storytelling. If you ran into Joyce, you could guarantee she’d be dressed to the nines (with matching accessories) and wearing a smile that would brighten anyone’s day. She loved music and dancing, was an exceptional cook, and she absolutely adored her family and her island.  

In addition to her husband and parents, Joyce was predeceased by her daughter, Betty Anne Bradshaw and her husband, Charles; son, Robert R. Shores, son-in-law, Timothy Marshall; grandson, Lance Hunter; brothers and sisters, Ralph “Skip” Parks, Owen Parks, Bill Parks, Betty J. Pruitt, Annette Diehl, and Bache Parks; and nieces and nephews, Rose, Hugh, Jeff, and Terry Parks.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Lana Marshall, Rosetta Crockett, and Nancy Crockett and her husband, Jeff, all of Tangier, and Roberta Hunter and Lula Belle Shores of Chesapeake, VA; grandchildren, Bev Parks, BJ Palmer-Steed, Charles Bradshaw, Marian Crockett, Cathy Parks, Lana Hunter, Danielle Crockett, Christopher Shores, and Bobby Shores; great-grandchildren, Lindsay Photakos, Timothy Palmer, Drew Parks, Forest Steed, Lance Parks, Schyler Parks, Lance Cano, Betty Anne Bradshaw, Layah Cano, Isabella Cabrera, Gavin Parks, Grayson Shores, and Isaac Shores; great-great grandchildren, Mason and Camden Photakos and Kyleigh Jo and Sawyer Palmer; sisters-in-law, Fern Parks and Helen Parks; brother-in-law, Mitchell Shores; nieces and nephews, Skippy and Junior Parks and Genie, Lee, and Gil Pruitt, Renee Smith, Dana O’Bier, Bache, Steve, and Mickey Parks, and Annette Charnock; and her caregivers, Brenda Laird and Mary Beth Durrett.

A service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at the New Testament Congregation on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., with Elder Duane Crockett officiating. The family will greet friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

Contributions in Joyce’s memory may be made to the Tangier Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 239, Tangier, VA 23440 or to New Testament Congregation Missions Fund, c/o Faith Charnock, P.O. Box 266, Tangier, VA 23440.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams Funeral Homes, Onancock and Parksley, VA.

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