Joyce Ann Wells Pace

DOB: 3/1/ 57 - 67 yrs. old

Joyce has lived her entire life in the Fluvanna Columbia community.  Joyce recalls a sweet and happy childhood, living modestly with her parents, two brothers and a sister.  During her childhood, she was very involved with both of her parents’ church communities.  Learning from piano lessons and from a family friend, Joyce became a pianist, eventually serving as the pianist for multiple Black churches in Fluvanna from her mid-teens through adulthood.

Joyce’s mother, Emma Jean Tinsley Wells, was well known for her friendliness and her sense of humor.  She was heavily involved with the family’s church, singing in the adult choir as well as other activities.  Among the various jobs she held in Fluvanna, she was the beloved receptionist and nursing assistant to Dr. Snead, a White physician.  Her mother shared that some White patients were taken aback to receive services from a Black woman.  

Growing up, Joyce describes herself as a “Daddy’s girl”.  Her father, Clarence Earl Wells, Sr., was a humble man with a laugh that was contagious.  He built a successful business named “Wells Auto Repair”.  He could diagnose problems just by listening to a motor running.  Even though most businesses were racially segregated when Joyce was growing up, her father’s enterprise attracted both Black and White customers.  He was heavily involved in their community and church, serving as Church Deacon as well as other responsibilities.

Joyce does not know much about her ancestry.  Her parents were not story tellers.  Her mother told her when asked about family history, “You can’t change the past”, possibly as a way to deflect conversation about the past.  Some lineage work on her father’s side points to ancestors who were enslaved  at the Glen Arvon Plantation in Bremo Bluff, VA.

Joyce attended Fluvanna public schools.  When she was in sixth grade, Fluvanna schools became integrated unlike the neighboring communities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, which closed their schools to resist integration.  Joyce felt that Fluvanna did not have significant problems with integration since Fluvanna was small and there were friendships between most Black and White families.  All of Joyce’s teachers were Black until junior high.  One area where Joyce felt there was not equal opportunity was with guidance counseling in high school; all the school counselors were White.  Black students were typically not advised to go to college even if they excelled academically

After high school, Joyce attended Smithfield Massey Business Collage in Richmond, following the footsteps of a sister.  She studied business and learned clerical skills.  Her first job was with the University of Virginia, working with payroll.  Holding various positions in Fluvanna, she became the first Black person to be employed by a Fluvanna bank; the Fluvanna NAACP was instrumental in helping her get this position.  She recalls that some White customers were unsettled by having a Black banker handle their finances.  Joyce went on to hold a variety of administrative related positions with the Fluvanna public schools and government.  In 2003, she became the first Black female General Registrar and Director of Elections in Fluvanna, a position she still holds.

Joyce has been married to Harold Pace for 48 years.  They have four adult children, 2 girls and 2 boys.  Joyce loves spending time with her family.  Faith and church have been central to Joyce’s life.  She says she is grateful her parents immersed her in the church during her childhood.

Joyce has successfully navigated the challenges of being a professional Black woman during times of racial integration, including breaking the ‘glass ceiling’ for some positions.  Being a devoted wife and mother are equally important to her.

Joyce