Ms. Joyce Marie Best Mitchell, 68 of Charlotte, passed away on Wednesday February 6, 2019 at her residence.  Joyce was the oldest of eight children of Julia Marie Best Dickens, Joyce was a loving and caring woman of few words and lots of smiles and laughs.  She was born in Ayden, NC on March 7, 1950 and grew up in Sussex County, Delaware with her mother and step-father Willis Leroy Dickens, Sr.  She was joined in matrimony to Robert Lee Mitchell Jr. on November 23, 1974 then relocated to Charlotte, NC.

Joyce never had an ill word to say about anyone.   She was kind-hearted with a gentle soul and loved by many.  She loved the Lord and anyone all who knew her could tell by the way she lived.  Her first church home in Charlotte was Greater Salem Church where she was a cub scout leader and intercessor.  She later attended New Zion Missionary Baptist Church.  She was a dedicated solider in God's army.

She attended Ross Point Elementary, William C. Jason and James H. Grove High School in Delaware.  She was one of the first black students to graduate from the James H. Grove program.  Later in life obtained her degree in Health and Human Services from Ultimate Medical Academy.  She worked as a nursing aid at Stockley Center, DE and as a diesel mechanic at Cummins Onan in Charlotte for many years.  She went back to school and became a CNA working several years at CMC Mercy Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis Leroy Dickens, Sr. and Julia Marie Best Dickens, a brother, Willis Leroy Dickens, Jr., 2 granddaughters, Cierra Rose Mitchell and Zion Neveah Miller and 1 great-granddaughter, Cataleia Lina Delores Tugman.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory 4 children: Tamara Lynette Burleigh, Vincent Bernard Best, Robert Martinez Mitchell (Sara) and Tanika K'inie Mitchell Miller (Lorenzo), all of Charlotte and a step-daughter, Coretta Lynn Whitfield Barr (Fred) of Baltimore. 6 Siblings: Cheryl Scott (Ralph), Lawrence Dickens, Karen Dickens, Anthony Dickens, Miyoshi Tunnell, all of Delware and Kevin Dickens of Pennsylvania, 8 Grandchildren (Jessica, Jibril, Shaianne, Des'rae, Jordan, Zomari, ZaKiya and Olivia) 3 step-grands (Tyjuan, Jayveous and Anna Pearl) and 4 great-grands (Dion, Jaden, Jae'cion , and Leylah) and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.