Joyce Whitlock Fields, 68, passed away suddenly, taking everyone, including herself, by surprise. She is survived by her mother, Mary Alyce Richardson Whitlock; her daughters Megan Kish (Jeff), Brett Miller (Ben), and Susannah O'Brien (Ben); her son Andrew Fields (Amy); and 13 grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Jeanne Gunter (Gail) and brothers Reed Whitlock (Jen) and Jamie Whitlock (Alysa). She is preceded in death by her father, Ira Edward Whitlock, and granddaughter, Eleanor.

Joyce was born in Washington, D.C., on May 31, 1951, to Ira and Mary Alyce Whitlock, the second - and according to her, most loved - of four children. She grew up in Alexandria, VA in a happy and loving family. Family summer vacations at Nags Head, NC were always a highlight, where her toolkit of hair-lightening and skin-bronzing products included such household staples as lemon juice, baby oil and Crisco.

Joyce was married to LTC. William E. Fields, (Ret.) for 27 years. She embraced the life of an Army spouse, throwing herself into service roles with the military wives auxiliary while living across the United States and Germany, and having four children along the way. Throughout her travels she was continuously drawn to the beach - always placing her beach chair right at the water's edge just like Oma and Opa taught her - and her enthusiasm for tanning never waned for herself or her children, whether the kids were clothed or not.

She required the children to join her for early morning scripture study, family prayer, and weekly church attendance, using "gentle" means of encouragement when necessary. She made time to chauffeur and cheer for her busy children at athletic events and performances, including those she thought were really exciting (drama, basketball, cheerleading) and those she thought really boring (soccer, orchestra). She made attendance at family dinners nonnegotiable, planned regular Forced Family Fun activities, and loved a good family vacation, even if it was the "WORST VACATION EVER!" She will long be remembered as passing along the philosophy of work hard, play hard.

For all her professional accomplishments, she was most proud of raising four strong and spiritual children, and she was thrilled to be known as the spoiling Grammy. She had a fierce love of her family and spending time with them was her greatest joy. She continued to make it a priority to spend time with her children as they grew and moved away, visiting or receiving them whenever possible. She was never happier than when talking Harry Potter, visiting theme parks, traveling to adventurous lands, or attending the theater with her loved ones.

In the past year she was able to spend significant and meaningful time with her family. She traveled to Hobbiton with Whit; visited Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland with Sawyer and Sydney; raced go-karts with Cat, Jack, Eliza, and Luke; and created a fast food smorgasbord with Dylan, Weston, Courteney, Drew, Colin and Will. She traveled the globe on a six-week South Pacific cruise with Jeanne; took a road trip with Jamie, Jeanne, and Reed to St. George; and odd-coupled with Oma at the Wellington, perhaps more than she was comfortable with.

Joyce's personal and professional focus was always helping others. Following meaningful leadership contributions to service, civic, and academic organizations at Hammond High School (where she was also a long-legged cheerleader), she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Speech Pathology/English-Speech from Longwood College; a Master's of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Baylor University; and a PhD in Family Relations from Florida State University (Go Noles!).

After recognizing the need for extensive help in so many children as a speech pathologist she decided to pursue counseling in hopes of improving family dynamics so that children from difficult homes could be happy and strong. During her second career, Joyce (ahem, Dr. Fields) counseled federal female inmates while her husband was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, KS; worked with military spouses and families in various domestic and international installations; and established a successful private practice for individuals, couples, and families in Columbia, SC.

While finding joy and fulfillment in helping individuals and families, Joyce really hit her professional stride and enlarged her circle of influence with her third and final career as a professor at Columbia College. What began as a singular teaching opportunity led to nearly 20 years as a passionate professor of sociology and leadership. She believed teaching was her true calling, and gained favor with students through her unique and fun ways of teaching complex principles in innovative courses and presentations such as "Harry Potter and the Sociological Imagination," "Southern Fried Feminism," and "The Happiest Place on Earth: A Study of Family Dysfunction at Walt Disney World." Eventually earning tenure and remembered by her students as a thoughtful and supportive - albeit demanding - instructor, she retired in December 2019.

As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she demonstrated her love for people in her congregation by serving in the Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, and Sunday School, in turn. (She also helped in the Nursery, but don't ask her about that time or she would tell you what she really thought…)

She particularly enjoyed her service in the Columbia, SC, LDS Temple and teaching seminary to high school students for several years, in spite of (and maaaybe taking sadistic joy in) the 6:30 am start time. She had hoped to serve a full-time LDS mission in the near future.

Joyce's loves were passionate and varied: reading, playing cards, watching movies, unique jewelry, good tacos and guac, singing, manicures, pedicures, expressive (colorful?) language, Diet Dr. Pepper (perhaps to excess, since she twice managed to drop her phone in a soda glass), traveling, and driving with the (convertible) top down - silver hair blowing in the wind. She had the heartiest laugh we've ever heard.

Joyce was strong-willed, hardworking, and committed; a passionate champion of people, an outspoken feminst, and a card-carrying member of the Democratic party. She died with a "BELIEVE WOMEN" bumper sticker on her convertible and a final charitable donation to the DNC. She imparted her parents' legacy of standing up for your beliefs and for others, not only to her children but also to the countless youth and women she mentored through social work, church service, and education. She encouraged all around her to be the best version of themselves and to make the world a better place.

Chick-Fil-A has lost a loyal customer, and we'll honor you with every Diet Dr. Pepper we drink and every peach gummi we eat. We'll remember to bend at the waist, and when we think of you there will always be Love at Home.

In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the funeral service for Dr. Fields will be held private with immediate family only. Burial will also be private in Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, UT, directed by Spillsbury Mortuary. For those who would like to offer their condolences to the family and view Dr. Fields, you may do so between the hours of 1 and 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th.

In memory of Joyce, please do something kind for someone else, and in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Sistercare Women's Shelter.