Joy Yvonne Newsome Tarter-Smith, the daughter of the late Garnie and Kathleen B. Newsome, was born on October 31, 1935 at Freedom's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Joy departed this life on July 2, 2010 after a lengthy illness with cancer. Educated in the Baltimore Public School System until the seventh grade, where she attended St. Frances Academy in east Baltimore and graduated from the twelfth grade in 1953. Joy matriculated at Hampton Institute now Hampton University through her freshman and sophomore years and then transferred to Morgan State College now Morgan State University and graduated in June of 1958 receiving her Bachelor of Sciece Degree. During the same month and year, Joy married Donal W. Tarter, Sr., and srom this union a son Donald Jr., was born. This marriage ended in divorce in 1964. Joy's professional occupation included being employed as a Substitute Teacher in the Baltimore Public School System for one and a half years, Recreation Leader and then being prpomoted to Senior Center Director with the Baltimore City Bureau of recreation for eight and a half years. In 1969, she entered employment with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City and the Department of Housing & Community Development. During these years, she was employed as a relocation Specialist, Relocation Coordinator ans as an Assistant Supervisor of relocation until her retirement in dJune of 2001 with thiety-one and a half years tenure. Joy married for the second time to George R. Smith who predeceased her in 1999. they really enjoyed entertaining in their home which they refurbished together. The food was always delicious and the company was always delightful and humorous. When asked how how she wanted to be remembered, Joy stated that she wanted to be remembered as a friendly, outgoing, fun-loving person who tried to treat everyone as she wanted to be treated. She also stated that she would like to be remembered as a good, loving and caring mother and grandmother, a devoted wife and as a good reliable and loyal friend. Joy has been a member of Union Baptist Church since 1947 and belonged to the Young People's Chior now known as the Sanctuary Choir and Voices. She had partcipated in many commettees for the preparation of numerous Women's Day and other celbrations. She was also a member of the Retreat committee in which two of the retreats were held in 2004. Joy was also an active member of the Queen Esther Circle. Joy's many interests included traveling, organization and coordenating of various social events such as weddings, birthday celebrations, retirements, anniversaries ect; card playing, all types of music especially jazz and classical music; theatre and last but not least being able to help people as much possible. It did not matter if they were young, old or in between, if she could help, she would. Joy was especially prud of her only child, Donald Jr., and was always eager to talk about his accomplishments and his l9ong tenure in the dUnited States Army. Joy and Donald shared a very special relationship and loved each other emmensley. Joy had a great zest for life and loved being around people. The greatest incident of her life was the birth of her first and only grandchild, a boy named cameron who was born January 31, 2007. He became the "joy of hr life", because she had previously thought that she would not become a grandmother before she left this world. She was ecstatically happy about the birth of Cameron and how he how progressed after his birth because he was a "preemie" who weighted less than two pounds when he was born. Joy leaves to cherish her memory; a loving and devoted son, sonald W. Tarter, Jr., loving grandson, Cameron Tarter; two aunts, two sisters-in-law, Essie Louise Smith and Barbara Greene Melvin; brother-in-law, Donald Smith; devoter and special cousins, Catherin Bass, Paulita Sheridan and Hazel Newsome; a devoted and loving best friend, ella Howaard; special friends, Paula Alston, Jerry Anderson, Sylvia andn Vernon Buchanan, Janice B. West, Dorothy Padgett; godchildren, Denard Howard and Paygan Dales; many nieces and nephews, many cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.