Joyce Holgate

Demille

Joyce Holgate DeMille, 97, passed away at Legacy Village at Plantation Manor on Oct. 4, 2020. Joyce Holgate DeMille was born in London, England on May 3, 1923. She was the oldest child of Herbert Cecil Frederick Holgate and Agnes Davey Holgate. Over a remarkable lifetime Joyce became a beloved member of our communities and an inspiration in kindness and resilience.

Joyce was educated in England, Norway and Switzerland.  At age 17 Joyce was drafted to work in London at the war office and provided services for the Norwegian Government-in-exile during World War II. After the war ended, she worked for the British Embassy in Oslo, Norway and later went to spend time with her parents in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany where she worked as a translator in The Reconstruction Loan Corporation. Her father had been sent by the World Bank to help with the post war reconstruction of the German economy. She became fluent in the Danish language and met her husband, Cecil (Ces) D. DeMille, a sergeant in the US Air Force while he was stationed in Germany. They were married in Shipton-under-Wychwood in the Cotswold Hills in England on October 6, 1951, and later moved to Georgia in September 1952, where she worked as a legal secretary in Valdosta, GA.  Their daughter, Beryl, was born in March 1954, at Moody Air Force Base. Joyce became a member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Thomasville, Georgia in 1957, and was granted United States citizenship on October 6, 1958. During her career in America, Joyce worked as a secretary to former Florida Governor Millard Caldwell, was a Court Reporter, worked for the State of Georgia, and was a secretary for 22 years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News in Thomasville. She also was Secretary Treasurer of the Thomasville Running Club, Secretary Treasurer of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Auxiliary President of T.L. Spence American Legion Post 31, and a member of the Tallahassee Chapter of National Secretaries Association.

At age 55 Joyce became a long distance runner, winning many 5, 10, and 15K races in her age group, and 2 mini-marathons when she was 60. During her life, she remained an active member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and was an active supporter of the St. Thomas Day School where her daughter Beryl attended and found many happy friends and playmates early in her life.

At the age of 90 she published a book titled, "Growing Up in 1940's War-Torn England" where she wanted to share with others her personal experiences of life during that time.  Joyce also wrote two pages of Professor Ray Barfield's book, "Listening to Radio 1920-1950."  Joyce enjoyed gardening and grew beautiful azaleas among other plants. She also loved knitting (made countless caps for newborns at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital.) She also loved reading and was a member of the Rosy Readers book club.

Survivors include her grandson, David Westlake; step-granddaughter, Tabetha Teschner; step-great-granddaughters, Brandi Leon (Christian) and Chloe Teschner; step-great-grandson, Zach Teschner all of Lakeland, FL; sister-in-law, Brenda Holgate of Northwood, England and a host of nieces and nephews, and many friends who will miss her stories and her cheer.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cecil DeMille; daughter, Beryl Westlake; son-in-law, Larry Westlake; sister, Beryl Dale; brother, John Holgate; and brother-in-law, Charlie Dale.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Thomas Episcopal Church, 216 Remington Avenue, Thomasville, GA, the St Thomas Day School, or the charity of your choice.