Joyce Mae Bivens-Torney, 62

SALISBURY - Joyce Mae Bivens-Torney, 62, departed this life on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Born Aug. 19, 1944, she was a daughter of Gladys I. King Bivens and the late Sylvester Bivens Sr.Joyce received her formal education at the Carter G. Woodson School in Crisfield. She continued her education by attending college in Philadelphia and Bowie State College in Maryland, and she received her master's degree at Salisbury State College.

Ms. Torney was a public educator for 39 years. She was employed by the Baltimore public school system for two years prior to her return to the Eastern Shore. Once she returned, she continued her passion of teaching with the Wicomico County Board of Education. She taught at Fruitland Primary School and Fruitland Intermediate School until her illness.

She was an active member of St. Charles United Methodist Church in Chance. She was currently attending the "Lead in Mission Outreach" at Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury. After her retirement, she continued her passion of working with children at St. James United Methodist Church in Westover.

Joyce was a member of the Light of Crisfield Temple 86, where she held several local and regional positions. The last title she received was "The Queen." She was affiliated with other organizations, too many to name.

Joyce leaves to cherish loving memories, along with her mother, two daughters and their spouses, Juana (Kippi) and Eric Blue of Salisbury and Zenova (Candi) and Pablo Lopez of Chance; seven grandchildren, Le, Sheldon, Erica, DeAndre, Aaeon, Ashanti and Nilmary; one great-grandchild, Sheldon Jr.; three brothers and their spouses, George Bivens Sr. of Crisfield, Sylvester (Pat) Bivens of Brooklyn and Leon (Cassandra) Bivens of Princess Anne; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Barbara (Charles) James and Gloria Bell, all of Marion Station, and Stella Bivens of Philadelphia; three uncles, Norman (Minnie) of North Carolina, Garfield King of South Carolina and Larry Sterling of Crisfield; a special cousin, Linda Jones; a dear friend, Eleanor Wright, both of Chance; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Burial was in the Charles Ward family cemetery in Marion Station.

Arrangements were handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Salisbury.