Joyce Heisey
Volunteer, Church of the Brethren
I grew up in Bradford, Ohio and was graduated from Bradford High School in 1960. After working in a dry-cleaner shop in Bradford during the summer, I entered Manchester College in North Manchester Indiana. In 1964, I was graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Several years later, I received a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Dayton in Dayton Ohio.
My first few years of teaching were in the Covington Elementary School followed by two years in St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Troy Ohio and then, the rest of my career, in Miami East Schools near Casstown, Ohio. My entire teaching career was spent teaching first or second grade except one year in the fifth grade. What I enjoyed most about teaching was being with the children, watching them grow academically as well as physically on their way toward successful, lifetime careers.
Larry, my husband, and I are members of the Troy Church of the Brethren in Troy, Ohio where we continue to serve in many capacities.
My involvement at the Brethren Heritage Center has been serving on the Collection Committee and cataloging books. The Collection Committee is responsible for receiving all donated items and determining whether they fit the scope of our collection and, if so, accessioning them into the collection. When not accessioning I catalog books. We have over 22,000 books in our Research Library, most of which I have cataloged into our computerized Library Catalog System. I really enjoy the camaraderie of being with all of the volunteers at the Center and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with knowing I am making a useful contribution in the process of preserving and sharing our rich Brethren Heritage.