Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Dr. Patsy Rainey Joyner was a native of Isle of Wight County, and a graduate of Windsor High School.   

While working full-time jobs during her early work career, Patsy Joyner saw the value of a college education — although she could not afford to quit work.  

She was in the first Paul D. Camp Community College graduating class – in 1973 – earning an associate degree in general studies / pre-teacher education.  She attended classes four nights per week.  

Patsy Joyner was hired at Paul D. Camp Community College in 1980 as the college president’s administrative assistant.  (Prior to being hired at the college, her employment included work at Dr. Irwin McNeely’s medical practice in Franklin.)  And, for a period of time, she was an adjunct teacher at the college.  Four years later, she was working as Director of Community and Continuing Education.  In 1995, she was named Director for Institutional Advancement – which later evolved into the position of Vice President for Institutional Advancement. 

Patsy Joyner’s two-year degree in 1973 positioned her to pursue other degrees while working full-time.  She held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and a masters in humanities from Old Dominion University.  In addition, she earned a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the College of William and Mary.

Dr. Joyner also served as Executive Director of the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation – working with Roger W. Drake over an extended period of time.  

As previously stated, during her career at Paul D. Camp, Dr. Joyner rose steadily through the ranks to eventually become Vice President for Institutional Advancement.  That title does not begin to adequately describe the roles she performed for the college – from marketing and community relations to leadership of its private fund-raising foundation.  

Dr. Joyner became the college’s biggest ambassador, never missing an opportunity to represent Paul D. Camp at any kind of community function.  She gave unselfishly to a wide variety of community causes, having served on a variety of local boards, including those of Genieve Shelter and the Western Tidewater Free Clinic.  

She was a very active member of the Franklin Kiwanis Club for many years and served as its president.  

In addition to Dr. Joyner’s involvement with the college, she was actively involved with the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, serving a term as its President, and serving as Vice President of its Legislative Committee for several years.  She was very familiar with the Virginia Legislature – often conducting tours and organizing meetings at the capitol building in Richmond.

At William and Mary, Dr. Joyner was one of the founding members of the School of Education Development Board and served as its first chair.  She also chaired the Graduate and Professional Schools Alumni Council and served as president and secretary for the South of the James Alumni Chapter.  In 1996, she received the Alumni Service Award. 

In 2012, Dr. Joyner retired.  In her honor, the Paul D. Camp Community College Regional Board Room on the Franklin Campus was renamed in her honor.  Then, the Board Room became known as the “Patsy R. Joyner Board Room”.  And, at the same time, she was appointed to the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation Board.

Paul Conco, college president, at the time of her retirement, said “Dr. Joyner is a staple in the community and we are so pleased that she will continue as part of the college family as one of our newest members of the Foundation Board of Directors.  The donors making this gift possible recognized Dr. Joyner’s significant accomplishments for herself and the college over her thirty-one-year career.  This is an excellent tribute.”

Dr. Joyner passed away on Nov. 25, 2024 in Daleville.  A celebration of her life was held at Courtland United Methodist Church on January 12, 2025.  She was the daughter of the late Ryland Roberts Rainey and Dorothy Cooley Rainey and was married to William Thomas Rainey III, who predeceased her.

Survivors include her daughter, Pattie Joyner Lee and her husband Rev. Thomas G. Lee, Sr. of Daleville; her grandchildren, Emily Lee Smith of Kilmarnock, Thomas G. Lee, Jr. (Dara) of Roanoke, Mary Beth Lee (Nick) of Roanoke, and Ginny Lee of Daleville; her great grandchildren, Kiera Lee, Aubrey Somers, Madeline Somers, Aayden Lee, Avery Lee, Harper Lee, and Atlas Lucado; 

She is also survived by her brother, Ryland R. Rainey, Jr. (Nancy).

CLYDE PARKER is a retired human resources manager for the former Franklin Equipment Co. and a member of the Southampton County Historical Society. His email address is magnolia101@charter.net.