July 29, 1924 – August 12, 2016
by Rosalie Fonda, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham, NC, 2015
Joyce Victoria Funkhouser Wasdell
Joyce Wasdell was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to Mary Elizabeth Garber Funkhouser and Ozais Tiffany Funkhouser. She received her undergraduate degree form Madison State Teacher’s College in Harrisonburg, and earned her Masters in Teaching from Duke University, where she also did work toward a doctorate.
Joyce married Edward S. Wasdell in 1944, prior to his service overseas in World War II. During the war she taught school in Rockingham County, Virginia. After her two children – Diann Wasdell (Irwin) and Edward S. Wasdell, Jr. – were in school, Joyce returned to teaching.
When the Wasdell family moved to Durham in 1953, Joyce began a thirty-year career in the Durham County Schools. She taught first at Bethesda School before moving to Southern High School. She was the first guidance counselor at Jordan High School, then went to the central office for Durham County Schools as Director of Secondary Education. When appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Durham County Schools in 1968, she was the first woman to reach this level. She retired from this position in 1985. After retirement she served as a public school advisor to Governor Martin, was a member of several committees, remained active in many professional organizations, volunteered for Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, and also took up the game of golf.
Joyce and her family joined St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Durham in September of 1956, shortly after its organization the preceding April. For many years Joyce was active at St. Luke’s in the choir and the Episcopal Church Women. She served on the Vestry, including being the second woman to become a Senior Warden at St. Luke’s. She was involved in the move from the building on Club Boulevard and into the new campus on Hillandale Road.