I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

~ Maya Angelou ~

Sarah H. Joyner departed this life on October 29, 2022, in the privacy of her home. She was born to the late Rev. Elias S Hardge, Sr. and Clara E. Hardge in Indianapolis, IN. Mrs. Joyner was the oldest sibling of the late Rev. Arthur Hardge, the Rev. Elias Hardge Jr. and Marjorie Hardge.

She met her first husband, Robert Colston LeGrand at Fisk University. They married and lived in New York City for ten years and later relocated to Portsmouth Virginia in 1954. From this union Mrs. Joyner was blessed with her son Robert C. LeGrand Jr., (Gloria) and five children, daughter Marsha Lee (James) and one child and late son, Claude D. LeGrand, Sr. (daughter-in-law Gale LeGrand-Williams) and five children.

Later she became a single mom but remained in the Hampton Roads area and credits that decision from the advice of her Father, who was the person that influenced her the most. She later was married to Johnnie R. Joyner for twenty years and from this union she was blessed with two additional stepchildren, the late Melvin Joyner (Lorraine) and two children, and daughter Elverna Freeman (Maurice) and two children. Mrs. Joyner leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Joyner’s early education began in the public schools of Jersey City, New Jersey and continued her education at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received musical training under the direction of Mrs. Ballard at the Ballard school of music. The person that influenced her love of music was professor Adgar, the organist at her Father’s church in Jersey City, New Jersey. She started playing hymns at the age of eight. Then shared her talent playing for churches at the age of fifteen. Throughout her music career, she has been an organist for various congregations in New Jersey and Virginia. The most memorable achievement in her music career is that of being honored as the organist at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia for thirty years (1965-1995). She also was a faithful member of sixty-eight years at Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, where she served as deaconess, president of the Senior Choir and musician for the children’s choir.

She retired from the US Coast Guard as the admiral’s secretary and International Association of Machinists. Mrs. Joyner enjoyed sports, especially her favorite basketball teams the LA Lakers and Miami Heat. The football teams she supported were the Washington Redskins, now the Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys. She also enjoyed watching tennis and had actively participated in winning several trophies on a bowling league with the Arabian temple until 2010. She loved traveling with friends and family. Mrs. Joyner is often described as calm, peaceful, organized, generous, and dependable.

Some words of wisdom and advice for the young people with an interest in music would be “to develop an interest in all types of music. Follow your heart and pursue your dreams, because there are many avenues open when you are proficient in several types of music.”

To family and friends, if anyone asks how she wanted to be remembered, please say the following about her; “She lived a fully blessed life. Her greatest blessing was her children.”

Mrs. Joyner leaves a legacy of love and compassion to her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:6