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Little
did Joyce's family, church and community realize more
than a half-century ago, that God blessed her mother,
Mrs. Evelyn Dykes, to bring forth a child and place amongst
us, a child who would blossom and leave a mark of excellence
in Winter Park City government. One who would measure
her days, months and years with successive marks of love,
compassion, wisdom and greatness.
The
Mark of Preparedness for Employment
Before hiring on with the city of Winter Park in 1973,
Swain was a single mother of three who cleaned other people's
homes for a living. She also passed hors d’oeuvres
at fancy Winter Park parties, and worked at the Winter
Park Day Nursery and Depugh Nursing Home. It was a low-wage
stint that lasted 14 years. |
Swain
married at 18 and was divorced a few years later. "You
make mistakes when you're young," she observed.
But one thing was clear; if her life were to improve,
she would have to do it. So she enrolled in a three-month
business course at the old Orlando Vocational School
and worked weekends to make ends meet. She emerged with
clerical skills and a will to succeed.
The
Advent of Joyce Moore Swain's Mark of excellence on
the city of Winter Park include:
- 1973,
clerk-typist with the WP Police Department
- Coordinator
of the city's mini-bus system…worked with the
city net communications system
-
By the end of 1974, her phone and people skills placed
her as receptionist in the city manager's office
- 1984
promoted to assistant city clerk
- 1991
promoted to city clerk
- As
City Clerk, she was a staff officer to the office
of the city manager, historian of the city and custodian
of the corporate seal and all city records. In addition
to her managerial responsibilities, she was responsible
for preparing agendas and information packages for
city commission meetings, tape recordings the meetings,
scheduling the retention and destruction of records,
and ensuring that election procedures were conducted
in accordance with federal regulations, state statues
and city charter codes.
-
1998 Joyce received the Winter Park Rotary Club's
prestigious "Vocational Service Award" which
was presented in recognition of her 25 years of outstanding
service, dedication, loyalty and extraordinary commitment
to the city and community, which was presented to
her by former mayor and Winter Park Chamber of Commerce
president, Gary Breuer.
-
In the summer of 1999, Joyce was accepted as a member
in the Academy of Advanced Education of the International
Institute of Municipal Clerks.
- 1999
tenth grade world history students from Edgewater
High School participated in a "Mock" city
commission meeting conducted by city clerk Joyce Swain
during Teach-In day. Students were asked to play the
roll of city clerk, city manager, city attorney, city
commissioner and mayor.
Aside
from the mark Joycelyn Harvett Moore Swain made at Winter
Park city government, her greatest mark is that of a proud
mother of three children and two grandchildren. Her son,
Ron Moore, is chief of the city's recreation facilities.
Granddaughter to the late Mrs. Jessie Latimer, sibling
to Carol Anderson, Leotis and Bobby, she is also a member
of the Winter Park Historical museum, The Habitat for
Humanities Board, The Winter Park Library Board and a
life-long member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Winter
Park.
Although
Joyce does often work behind the scenes both in public
and private life, she became one of the most important
and relied upon individuals at the city in her community
and presently at her church.
'The
Mark of Success'
When queried, Joyce, what special attributes contributed
to your 27 successful years in the employ of Winter Park
city government? Her response, "I treated people
as I'd want to be treated. It took more of your time,
but you tried to keep people from being sent from pillar
to post." In keeping with her philosophical belief,
she never lost her cool, not even when juggling a demanding
city job and caring for her often hospitalized daughter
Bonnie, who has Sickle-Cell Anemia.
"Throughout Joyce's 27 years of employ with the city,
Joyce served under five different mayors, 15 different
city commissioners and four city managers.
During
the final months of her career with the city, she became
involved in a special project. She moved forward to preserve
a part of the city's history, by carefully placing, one
by one, the three hand written books that were used in
the late 1800s at the city to record the minutes of city
commission meetings in mylar sleeves, she ensured that
the city's history from October 12, 1887 through May 3,
1920 was well preserved for generations to come.
It
was Joyce's final tribute to the city that groomed her
and final tribute to her friend Commissioner Rachel Murrah,
who wanted the records preserved but died before the accomplishment
of the project.
When
Joycelyn Swain retired as city clerk, so did the city's
collective memory. She had logged 27 years as one of the
city's most valued and best-liked workers. She left as
the city's highest-ranking African-American employee,
earning $53,000 per year.
On
November 21, 2000, hundreds of people from city employees,
community leaders, past Winter Park mayors and city commissioners,
paid tribute to Joyce during a luncheon held at Interlachen
Country Club. The luncheon was sponsored by the Sydgan
Corporation, Florida Power Corporation, Kraft Insurance,
and Palladeno Enterprises. She was presented with gifts
galore including a framed resolution by mayor Ronald "Terry"
Hotard and the city commissioner.
Says
Swain,"We cannot live our lives alone, for other
lives we touch are either strengthened by our own or weakened
just as much. It is time for me to say goodbye to a life
that I've lived, worked and enjoyed for the past 27 years…
I'm sure I will miss you; but I will always remember the
special way that our lives touched - for it is in touching
the lives of others that life gains real significance
and beauty. May God Bless! And thank you for every thing.”
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