William Alfonza Joyner

William Alfonso Joyner moved to a new address on February 26, 2014. A heart of gold and a great spirit is silent. William was born in Nash County, North Carolina, to John H. Joyner and Hattie B. Hunter of Nash County, North Carolina. He was the oldest of four boys. In the early days he and his brothers worked on the farm. He drove the school bus in high school and completed his high school education at Nash County Training School. His next great venture would lead him to the United States Army as a Medi-Vac Unit soldier to caring for the injured in the Korean War. He received his Honorable Discharge in 1955. The next year he married the lovely Dorothy Bell who would be his soul mate for 57 years. A life-long journey which produced two children and four granddaughters. William attended North Carolina Central University, in Durham, North Carolina and Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia, studying business and entrepreneurship. He spent 17 years with Brown Distributing Company where he was the first Black route salesman. He later opened two successful businesses “A & W Suprette” in 1972, affectionately named after his children and “Bob and Len’s Restaurant” in 1974, on Brookland Park Blvd in Richmond. He received numerous sales awards and commendations. One of his proudest achievements was working to establish the Boys and Girls Club in the Churchill community. As Past Master of Mocha Temple No. # 107 he worked diligently to promote Black businesses and that community. His commitment to real estate development caused him to renovate, restore and rent property to families in the community. As an entrepreneur his legacy of real estate and community development would live on to his children. In recent years she enjoyed family gatherings, traveling and visiting with family and friends from New Jersey to Florida He was preceded in death by his mother, father and brother, John. He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife Dorothy M. Joyner; daughter, Willette Joyner; son, Almondo Joyner( Keisha); four granddaughters; Dominique ,Raven, Amani and Hannah Joyner; brothers; Herbert L. Joyner( Anita) of Newport News, Virginia and Curtis Joyner (Ernestine) of New Jersey; sister-in-law, Mildred Joyner of New York; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Tributes

William Alfonza Joyner

September 23, 1933 - February 26, 2014