Honoring the Memory of Joyce C. Willis
Joyce C. Willis was a lifelong member of the Hartford Community and a crucial member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors. Born in Hartford, Joyce was a graduate of Hartford Public High School, Class of 1965. After high school, Joyce continued her education at Howard University where she majored in English. After graduating from Howard University, Joyce returned to Hartford and took a position with the Hartford Times newspaper. She later transitioned to the insurance industry and worked at The Hartford Financial Services Group in Corporate Communications. Joyce worked in various capacities over the years at The Hartford and retired as a Vice President of Corporate Communications after over 25 years of service. She was awarded national recognitions for excellence in her field and was widely known as one of the top executives at the company.
She had a deep and abiding love for African American Art and was a founding member of the Amistad Foundation, now The Amistad Center for Art & Culture in Hartford. Joyce served on the board of trustees for many years and was a past chairperson of the Curatorial Committee, where she enjoyed participating in the selection of exhibits and works of art on display at The Amistad Center. In addition to the HSO, she was a board member of The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, and she served on numerous committees and fundraising groups for the United Way in Hartford. Joyce's determination to leave a lasting legacy in the community she loved was further realized when she became a charter member of the Black Giving Circle Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Joyce was a devoted family member and attended every Reynolds Family Reunion. She was a founding member of the Reynolds Family Scholarship Fund Committee.
We honor the memory of Joyce C. Willis for her support of excellence and equity in the arts. Joyce’s memory lives on through the HSO’s Joyce C. Willis Artist In Residence program, funded by the Roberts Foundation. We can think of no better way to honor her legacy than to pay tribute to Joyce at our 80th Anniversary Gala and use the opportunity to further and promote her personal mission.
