Dallas, TX, September 23, 2025
News Summary
Joyce White, an esteemed educator and nature enthusiast, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family. Known for her hands-on teaching approach, she significantly impacted students and community groups. Celebrated for her passion for wildlife, Joyce’s legacy will continue through donations made in her memory. Her family invites friends to honor her life at a memorial service, fostering a celebration of her contributions to education and her love for nature.
Dallas, TX — Joyce White, age 85, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025. She spent her final moments at T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, TX, with her daughters by her side.
Overview
Joyce White was an accomplished educator and lifelong nature lover whose career and personal interests touched students, family members, and community groups across several states. Her death on August 28, 2025, marks the loss of a teacher known for creative classroom demonstrations, a passion for gardening and wildlife, and a broad range of cultural and outdoor pursuits.
Key details
Full name and age: Joyce White, age 85.
Date and place of death: Joyce White, age 85, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025. She spent her final moments at T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, TX, with her daughters by her side.
Family and survivors
Joyce was born on May 12, 1940, in Cumberland, MD, to Albertus White and Helen Maxey White. She was preceded in death by her brothers Wayne and Warren (Gary) White and predeceased by her daughter, Diana. She is survived by her daughters: Deborah McNeff (Dayton, OH), Angela Mauermann (Frisco, TX), Alesia Coffman (Dallas, TX), Stefani Benefield (Louisville, KY), and sister Janice Leith (Cumberland, MD). Her family also includes her great-grandson, Max Heller, and eight grandchildren: Kathleen Beeman (Grant) of Queens, NY; Gillian Heller (Morgan) of Cranford, NJ; Brodie, Jaxson, Clay and Jacob Benefield of Louisville, KY; Keegan Coffman of Dallas, TX; and Oliver Mauermann of Frisco, TX.
Services and memorials
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Joyce’s life at Adams Family Funeral Home in Cumberland, MD, on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Interment of her ashes will take place at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Cumberland, MD. In Joyce’s memory, the family requests donations to Heard Natural Science and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, TX, or the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Akron, OH, known affectionately as “Grandma’s Woods.” Online memories and condolences can be shared at www.adamsfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Career and accomplishments
Joyce was a lifelong teacher and a member of the Fort Hill High School class of 1958 in Cumberland. She graduated from Frostburg State Teachers’ College in 1962 while caring for two young daughters. One of her proudest accomplishments was earning a Master’s Degree in Montessori Education to teach the Montessori method in Akron (OH) Public Schools.
Her teaching style was hands-on and creative; she was well-remembered by her students for demonstrations such as the Monarch butterfly life cycle in the classroom. Her work included classroom music, arts and crafts, and theatre activities designed to engage students across grade levels.
Personal interests and community involvement
Outside the classroom, Joyce pursued a wide range of interests. She was an avid tennis player and fan, golfer, and coached softball. She directed high school musical theatre productions, sang in choirs, and explored arts and crafts including jewelry making, apple head dolls, macrame owls, and teaching Zen tangle art.
Joyce loved nature and wildlife. She maintained terrariums, talked to the toads in her care, and enjoyed feeding and observing backyard birds. She was an adventurous traveler with trips to the Amazon jungle, Alaska, Turkey, Italy, and the British Isles. Joyce cherished sharing her knowledge and love of nature with her daughters and grandchildren.
Acknowledgments
The family expressed deep gratitude to the teams at Harbor Chase Memory Care in Plano, TX, and T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care in Dallas for their care and support during Joyce’s final months.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Joyce White pass away?
Joyce White, age 85, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025.
Where did Joyce White spend her final moments?
She spent her final moments at T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, TX, with her daughters by her side.
Where was Joyce White born?
Joyce was born on May 12, 1940, in Cumberland, MD, to Albertus White and Helen Maxey White.
What is Joyce White’s educational background?
She was a member of the Fort Hill High School class of 1958 in Cumberland. She graduated from Frostburg State Teachers’ College in 1962 while caring for two young daughters.
What notable professional accomplishment did she achieve?
One of her proudest accomplishments was earning a Master’s Degree in Montessori Education to teach the Montessori method in Akron (OH) Public Schools.
Who survives Joyce White?
She is survived by her daughters: Deborah McNeff (Dayton, OH), Angela Mauermann (Frisco, TX), Alesia Coffman (Dallas, TX), Stefani Benefield (Louisville, KY), and sister Janice Leith (Cumberland, MD).
Her family also includes her great-grandson, Max Heller, and eight grandchildren: Kathleen Beeman (Grant) of Queens, NY; Gillian Heller (Morgan) of Cranford, NJ; Brodie, Jaxson, Clay and Jacob Benefield of Louisville, KY; Keegan Coffman of Dallas, TX; and Oliver Mauermann of Frisco, TX.
When and where will services be held?
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Joyce’s life at Adams Family Funeral Home in Cumberland, MD, on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Where can donations be made in Joyce’s memory?
In Joyce’s memory, the family requests donations to Heard Natural Science and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, TX, or the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Akron, OH, known affectionately as “Grandma’s Woods.”
Key facts at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Joyce White |
| Age | 85 |
| Date of death | August 28, 2025 |
| Place of death | T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, TX |
| Birth | May 12, 1940, in Cumberland, MD, to Albertus White and Helen Maxey White |
| Education | Fort Hill High School class of 1958; Frostburg State Teachers’ College, 1962; Master’s Degree in Montessori Education |
| Career | Lifelong teacher; Montessori method teacher in Akron (OH) Public Schools |
| Services | Adams Family Funeral Home in Cumberland, MD, on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 9:30-11:00 a.m.; interment at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Cumberland, MD |
| Donations | Heard Natural Science and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, TX; Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Akron, OH, known affectionately as “Grandma’s Woods” |
| Online condolences | www.adamsfamilyfuneralhome.com |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Downing & Lahey: Gerard Thomas “Jerry” Joyce
- Restland Funeral Home: Joyce Hartwell
- Dignity Memorial: Edward Smiley
- Legacy: Joyce Ellis
- Harper Funeral Home: Nadine Joyce Johnson
- Wikipedia: Nature lovers
- Google Search: Joyce White obituary
- Google Scholar: Montessori education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: Obituaries
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
