Joyce Lee Strother, 97 of Cary, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 25, 2023 at the home of her granddaughter, Laura and husband Brian Carver in Wake Forest, under the care of Promedica Hospice. She was born September 29, 1925 in Raleigh, the daughter of the late T. Clyde and Thelma S. Cooper. Clyde found Clyde Cooper's Barbeque Restaurant in downtown Raleigh in 1938. Joyce had one sister Mary Clyde Massey who passed away in 2021. She was a graduate of Cary High School and attended Peace College where she studied to be a secretary. She married W. Ralph Strother of Raleigh in 1944 (deceased).

Joyce worked at Durham Life and she and Ralph moved to work at Field Crest Mills. In the early 50s they moved to Dearborn Michigan, where Ralph worked for Ford Motor Company and Joyce was a homemaker. In Michigan they had three children. Ralph retired from Ford and they returned to Cary in 1981. She is survived by her son, William R. "Bill" Strother, Jr. and wife Silvia of Charlotte, daughter Carol S. Petrea and husband H. A. "Rusty" of Ocean Isle Beach, daughter Harriet J. Schram and husband Henry M. "Hank" of Crownsville, MD, eight grandchildren Laura, Suzanne, Meredith, Caroline, Emily, Raymond, Rafael, and Benjamin and eight great-grandchildren. All of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren lovingly called her "Haha", for her fun and laughter.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday January 31 at Montlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum 2911 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh; visitation at 12:00pm and the service to follow at 1:00pm.

Joyce was a member of the White Plains United Methodist Church in Cary. Donations can be made in her honor wpumc.com or to your organization of choice.