Debra C Joyner

On Friday, February 12, 2021, Debra Collette Joyner, loving wife and mother to 2 children, passed away at the age of 68. Debra was born on November 23, 1952 at Fitkens Hospital in Neptune, NJ to Ernest and Mercedes Batiste. On September 8th 1973, she married William (Short) Joyner and raised 2 children, Collette and William Joyner III. Debra attended the Asbury Park School District where she would later meet the love of her life, William (Short) Joyner, in their senior year of high school. This is where their love story lasting 47 years began. Growing up, Debra was a tomboy, a great athlete, and captain of the cheerleading team at Asbury Park High School. She attended Brookdale Community College and began her career in Human Resources at Prudential Insurance Company in the Newark/Woodbridge/Holmdel locations for 18 years. She then worked for Kiwi Airlines and then Allied Aviation for 23 years in Human Resources as a personnel administrator, where she worked until her passing. Debra was a faithful servant of God and devoted member of the New Light Baptist Community Church for over 44 years where she served as President on the Usher Board and then the Church Clerk until she passed. She devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, her parents, siblings, and her church family. Debra loved the Lord and everyone that knew her knew that. In fact, she was so dedicated that even though she would travel 4-7 hours away to see her son’s college football games on Saturdays, she never missed church. Debra was the glue and rock of the family. She oversaw and handled all expenses from day one and provided for anyone who needed it whether it was a family member, friend, kids, or grandkids. She made sure they were always in good hands even if they weren’t aware. She was like an angel always giving to whoever in need. Debra was an avid traveler in which she enjoyed vacationing in the Caribbean Islands with her family as well as traveling with her mother to places such as Hong Kong. Since her sister, Stephana, worked for the airlines in the past, Debra and Stephana traveled all over the globe to places such as France, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Hawaii. Debra was very special and had the unique ability to engage in conversation with other tourists and draw them in for a laugh. She also loved to play solitaire on her kindle daily. Debra is survived by her loving husband, William (Short) Joyner and her two children, Collette Joyner and William (Billy) Joyner. She was a grandmother to Jewel Joyner and Amber Joyner as well as a sister to Stephana Batiste Faison (Husband Larry Faison) and Courtney Batiste and her Uncle Clark Batiste. Debra also had two god children, Brittany Bell and Daniel Stewart. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who love her dearly. She is predeceased by her parents Mercedes Batiste and Ernest Batiste and her brother Jeffrey Batiste.