Joyce Michelle Craig was born to James Edward Craig and Carol Ginger Craig on June 7, 1977, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Joyce was a loving, outgoing, tough as nails and hardworking mother, sister, and friend. When she went after a goal, she didn’t stop until her goal was attained.

She grew up in the City of Philadelphia and attended Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School, William Levering Middle School, and Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School, where she majored in printing.

Joyce always demonstrated a self-sacrificing spirit, and this led her to becoming trained as an EMT, a job she held for many years. However, her passion was to become a firefighter. “It was a dream of mine since I was five.” She admired the firefighters on Ridge and Midvale (Engine 35 – Ladder 25), where she lived and began seeking to accomplish this goal by studying for hours on end, explaining to her sisters the difference between various fire hydrants and trucks.

Firefighter Joyce Craig served as a member of the Philadelphia Fire Department with valor and distinction. She graduated from the Firefighter Academy, Fire Class 178, in March 2004. During her career, she served with Engine 9, Engine 45, Ladder 21, and Engine 64, and will always be remembered as a “firefighter’s firefighter.”

In her service to the community, Firefighter Craig continually demonstrated her duty-bound commitment to the saving of lives and the preservation of property. Regrettably, on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, Firefighter Joyce Craig was killed in the line of duty. She was posthumously promoted to the rank of fire lieutenant on January 12, 2015.

Joyce loved her family and was all about keeping the family together. She was the aunt to go to for cool school clothes, name-brand sneakers, and trips. She was also there to counsel and guide the younger ones. Joyce was tough, but at the same time, loved to have her hair and nails done and wore the best Mohawks ever! Always styling!

Joyce is survived by her parents, James E. Craig and Carol G. Craig. She leaves behind a son, Mekhi D. Green, and a daughter, Laylani C. Lewis. Also mourning her loss is her grandmother, Joyce M. Craig; aunt, Claudia “Laverne” Battle; two sisters, La Farist Makasi and Uris S. Payton; two brothers, Kareem R.B. Meads and Michael E. Craig; one brother-in-law, Antonio D. Makasi; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.