Joyce Salem O’Neal, 63, of Beaufort and formerly of Ocracoke Island, died on Saturday (March 9) in Carolina East Medical Center of New Bern.
Born Sept. 7, 1955, she was a daughter of the late Harry M. Salem Jr. and Betty Lou Slocum Salem of Prince George County, Virginia. After high school, she moved to Ocracoke.
A hard worker, she was known to have multiple jobs at one time to help provide for her family. She retired after 30 years from Ocracoke Schools where she started as a custodian and later becoming a teacher’s assistant.
While a teacher’s assistant, she also assumed roles such as bus driver, high school girls’ basketball coach and data manager.
After retiring, she moved to Beaufort, to be with her daughter and grandson. There, Joyce started working full time at the Beaufort Library. She retired from the library at the end of 2018 due to illness.
Joyce enjoyed reading and had a love for fishing and fished numerous years in the Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament.
In addition to her daughter, Carmen O’Neal, Joyce is survived by a grandson, Ayden Daniels both of Beaufort; a brother, Harry M. Salem III of Oakboro, N.C.; her fur baby, Leo; and unofficial granddaughter, Olivia Rimmer of Beaufort.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a scholarship in Joyce’s name for graduating seniors at Ocracoke School, P.O. Box 189, Ocracoke, NC 27960.
The family would like to thank family and friends for their love and support during Joyce’s illness and passing.
Arrangements are by Noe Funeral Service Inc. of Beaufort and condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at noefs.org.
