Florence “Joy” Banyon, 74, of 1333 Rte. 117, Groton, died Monday after a courageous 6 year battle with cancer.
She was born in Harlem, NY on May 6, 1930 the daughter of Sylvia D. Barksdale Lewis Barnes and Charles S. Lewis. She was also the stepdaughter of Daniel G. Barnes. She graduated from Morris High School in the Bronx.
She married Richard H. Banyon, her childhood sweetheart, on April 17, 1948 at St. Augustine Church in New York City. They moved to Groton in 1954.
Mrs. Banyon worked for the Groton Board of Education for 30 years with assignments as a Teachers Aid at Claude Chester, Northeast, and Noank Schools. At one point, she was vice president of the Teachers Aid Association. She retired from the school system in 1995. Previously, Joy held various positions at the former “Schraftts” Motel and Restaurant in New London.
In the past, Mrs. Banyon had taught Sunday School at the Center Groton Baptist Church and the Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church. Until her illness, Joy was active with the Groton Senior Citizens and enjoyed travel and cruising with her husband.
Besides her husband of 56 years, she is survived by her children, Vicki Driscoll of Groton and Richard Banyon Jr. of Stonington; 3 grandchildren, Daniele Driscoll of new Castle, Del, Keith and Vincent Banyon of Stonington; a great-grandaughter, Deja Driscoll-Smith of Groton; 3 sisters, Jacqueline LaLande of Norfolk, VA, and Barbara Mills and Patricia Barnes, both of Virginia Beach, VA.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Charles S. and Leo D. Lewis and a sister, Antonia Raveneau.
Joy’s family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Wednesday from 6-8pm. A Service will be conducted at the Noank Baptist Church 18 Cathedral Heights, Noank on Thursday at 10am with burial following at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Oncology Unit at W.W. Backus Hospital, 326 Washington St., Norwich 06360 or Hospice of SECT, PO Box 902, Uncasville CT 06382.