Joy Hines

Joy Hines (November 10, 1945 – February 12, 2026) Joy Hines, a distinguished educator, devoted matriarch, and a woman of extraordinary resilience and courage, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on February 12, 2026. Born on November 10, 1945, in St. Catherine, Jamaica, to Mortimer and Dione Smith, affectionately called (Bro. Morty and Miss Lil). Joy’s journey was defined by lifelong learning and selfless sacrifice and service. After attending Brainerd Primary School, she went to Harewood All Age School and then Villmore School of Commerce where she excelled—so much so that she was immediately offered a teaching position at the institution. Her passion for growth led her to further her studies at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), now the University of Technology (UTech). Her academic foundation paved the way for a remarkable career spanning over twenty-three years at Dinthill Technical High School. As a specialist in Business subjects, she taught Typewriting, Shorthand, entrepreneur- ship, and Principles of Business with a level of precision and care that earned her the deep respect of colleagues and students alike. Joy eventually rose to serve as Head of the Business Department, where she mentored fellow educators and helped shape the institution’s vocational standards. Her classroom was more than a place of study; it was an extension of her home a space where she mothered, nurtured, and counseled students. In July 2005, the Ministry of Education honored her for 36 years of Distinguished Service to Education, a legacy she carried into her retirement in 2006. Mom also volunteered after her retirement; she was instrumental in the implementation of an infant school at Harewood Primary School which was later renamed Harewood Infant and Primary School. Joy met Lloyd Hines in St. Catherine in 1967, and they developed a friendship which later blossomed into so much more. On December 30, 1979, Joy married the love of her life, Lloyd Hines. Together, they built a foundation of faith and family that spanned 46 years. Joy’s life was defined by an undeniable strength, most famously captured in January 1982. While her youngest child was just a few months old, Joy survived being struck by lightning—a miraculous event that became a cornerstone of her family’s history and a testament to her divine fortitude. Hailed as a pillar of strength, Joy mastered many roles with an undaunted spirit: teacher, student, mother, and devoted caregiver for her ailing parents. Her faith was her anchor; she served as an Elder at the Williamsfield Seventh-day Adventist Church, dedicating herself to the congregation until she migrated to the United States on September 29, 2017. In 2019, Joy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which progressed into full-blown dementia. Her husband Lloyd became her primary caregiver, and he certainly fulfilled his marital promise of “In sickness and in Health, till death do us part”. He became her voice, her hands and feet, her everything. In the last eighteen months, Lloyd was given some assistance, and she was blessed with a team of additional caregivers—Janny, Osany, and Marite—who went above and beyond to ensure her comfort. Even in the advanced stages of her illness, she was forging strong bonds, as, despite her vulnerability, they saw her courage and strength underneath the layers. These ladies laughed with her, danced with her, sang for her, cared for her, and prayed for her. For us, the family, they are now a part of the extended family, and we are eternally grateful for their selfless care. En 2019, a Joy le diagnosticaron Alzheimer, que progresó hasta convertirse en demencia grave. Su esposo Lloyd se convirtió en su principal cuidador y cumplió con su promesa matrimonial de "En la salud y en la enfermedad, hasta que la muerte nos separe". Se convirtió en su voz, sus manos y sus pies, su todo. En los últimos dieciocho meses, Lloyd recibió ayuda y tuvo la suerte de contar con un equipo de cuidadoras adicionales —Janny, Osany y Marite— que se desvivieron por su bienestar. Incluso en las etapas avanzadas de su enfermedad, forjó fuertes vínculos, ya que, a pesar de su vulnerabilidad, vieron su valentía y su fuerza subyacentes. Estas mujeres rieron con ella, bailaron con ella, cantaron para ella, la cuidaron y oraron por ella. Para nosotros, la familia, ahora son parte de la familia extendida, y estamos eternamente agradecidos por su desinteresado cuidado. Joy will always be remembered as a woman of faith, resilience, integrity and generosity, someone whose imprint will be left in the hearts of those with whom she came in contact. True to her name she radiated joy wherever she went. She is predeceased by two of her children Horace and Marcia. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband Lloyd Hines, brothers Owen and Harry, children Neressa, Junior, Michelle, Deonne, Wendy, Yolanda, Brad and Chrystal. She also leaves to honor her legacy her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a host of family and friends and the thousands of students she empowered to succeed. May her soul rest in peace.

Joy Hines

October 11, 1945 - February 12, 2026