Dr. Joyce McManus, former School of Nursing faculty member, to be laid to rest Friday
Dr. Joyce McManus, a longtime faculty member at Alcorn State University’s School of Nursing, passed away Monday, May 11. She was 83-years-old.
A graveside service will be held for McManus Friday, May 15, at 11 a.m.at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, located on 106 Morgantown Road in Natchez, Mississippi. The service will be under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
McManus began her tenure at Alcorn’s School of Nursing in 1978. She served as a faculty member for various nursing courses, coordinator of the junior nursing courses, and as the chairperson of the baccalaureate nursing program for 15 years. She witnessed the program’s accreditation by the National League of Nursing three times.
She held multiple positions on Alcorn’s main campus, the Natchez campus, and statewide. She was also a member of national nursing organizations and traveled across the United States to attend national conferences related to nursing.
McManus earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1976, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1978, and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Mississippi in 1989.
McManus retired from Alcorn in 2004 after 26 years of service.
During her tenure, McManus formed bonds with her co-workers that they cherish to this day. Kim Golmon, a secretary for the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing who worked for McManus, has fond memories of her as a motherly figure. She believes that all people should strive to be like McManus.
“She was like a mother to me,” said Golmon. “She was my manager for several years, and I enjoyed working for her. I loved her, and we all should strive to be like her.”
Dr. Linda Godley, director of Accreditation, Assessment, Compliance, and Evaluation Management and interim director of Graduate Nursing Programs, remembers McManus as a professional who was dedicated to her craft.
“Dr. McManus had a strong work ethic and was committed to achieving the best results,” said Godley. “We met in 1979 and worked on lots of projects together. She loved her job because she loved serving others.”
Marlene Cupit, owner of Hurst Review Services in Brookhaven, Mississippi, developed a relationship with McManus that spanned a couple of decades. She’s thankful to have had McManus as a mentor.
“She was a wonderful person,” said Cupit. “She was one of the smartest ladies I’ve ever known. She always supported me in my career and gave me wonderful advice. I loved her so much and will always be thankful she was in my life.”
The Alcorn State University community extends its deepest sympathies to the McManus family as they mourn their loss.
