LOUISBURG--Joyce Barkman McDonald, age 93, of Louisburg, passed away Monday, November 9, 2020.
Joyce was the daughter of the late Cleveland Leon and Fern Young Barkman. She was a 1945 graduate of Springfield (Ohio) High School. She pursued her lifelong love of music at Westminster Choir College of Princeton, New Jersey. Among the many highlights of her time there were touring America as a mezzo-soprano in their renowned choir, singing with and meeting the famed conductor Leopold Stokowski at a post-World War II relief benefit, and the choir's performance at Carnegie Hall.
After graduation she returned home to Springfield where she met the love of her life, Walter Neill McDonald, who was serving as an associate minister at Central Methodist Church. In 1956, Joyce and Walter moved to Louisburg where Joyce continued her love of music by serving as director of choirs at Louisburg United Methodist Church for over thirty years. Many members still have fond memories of her annual Christmas programs. Joyce also led high school glee clubs in the Franklin County school system and taught private voice lessons. In 1966, Joyce began her 26-year career as an elementary teacher in the Franklin County schools, spending most of it as a reading teacher at Louisburg Elementary.
Joyce is predeceased by her husband and parents, as well as her sisters, Marcella Barkman Costello and Dotty Barkman Foster, and her daughter, Elizabeth McDonald Royal.
Joyce is survived by her daughters, Fern (Kenneth) Howerin of Charlotte; Marcella McDonald of Louisburg; sons Neill (Lynn) McDonald of Shallotte; Robert (Susan) McDonald of Roanoke Rapids; and John McDonald of Louisburg; son-in-law, Jimmy Royal of Salisbury, Md.; 9 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren.
Due to the current pandemic restrictions, funeral services will be held at a future date yet to be determined. Memorial gifts may be made to Louisburg United Methodist Church, 402 North Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549.
Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.
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