Joi Butler

Joi Maria Butler, a retired educator and resident of Macon, Georgia passed away unexpectedly on March 11, 2024, at the age of 65 in the arms of her loving husband. Joi is survived by her husband Melvin Ray Butler and her sister Brenda Edwards.

Joi was born in Miami, Florida on January 14, 1959, to Frank Tyrone Rivers and Ann Lou Bullock. She graduated from Bethune Cookman College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Joi was employed by Dade County Public schools for 26 years.  Over the years, Joi worked with a diverse group of children from the inner city to the upper-class.  Joi was often assigned children educators declined to teach and/or gave up on.  She gave her all to every child she taught regardless of their social and economic background.  Joi retired as an early childhood educator in 2017.  On April 17, 1982, Joi married Melvin Ray Butler and welcomed his children Melvin Ray Butler Jr., Deruisa L. Stokes, and stepson Anthony E. Stokes as her own. Joi was also an extended grandmother to Destiny R. Butler (daughter of Melvin Ray Butler Jr.) and Trinity Faith Stokes (Daughter of Anthony and Deruisa Stokes). Joi spoke of her extended family often and cherished the time she spent with them during her lifetime.

  
Joi took advantage of simple pleasures life offered.  She enjoyed listening to music and relaxing on the patio with Melvin.  Joi enjoyed meeting and connecting with members of her community in Florida and in Macon.  During her visits to local establishments in Macon, Joi was known to offer words of encouragement and gave prayers, hugs, and/or fist bumps to show sympathy and affection.  Joi was all about order. Everything had its place.  Oftentimes she’d offer to rearrange her bank clerk, Angel, desk if the opportunity presented itself.

  
Joi truly loved her husband Melvin, and he loved her back!  The two of them enjoyed every minute of each other from cooking, doing house chores, or a mini vacation to watch artists such as Smokey Robinson in concert.  They were always by each other's side loving and supporting each other genuinely. Joi was a firm believer in the power of God.  For the length of her marriage, she and Melvin prayed daily before bedtime. Joi’s loving and nurturing spirit will always be remembered by everyone she encountered.  

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