Joyce Freeman, Ph.D

Joyce Freeman, Ph.D. passed from this life on January 30, 2024. She was born in Hillsboro, Texas, but spent most of her life in Corpus Christi.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lura Lee Mitchell Freeman and George Raymond Freeman and her twin sister, Dr. Janice Freeman.

Dr. Freeman attended Menger Elementary School, Wynn Seale Middle School and graduated from W.B. Ray High School in the top 10 of her class. She received an Associate in Arts Degree from Del Mar College where she was selected by the faculty as Outstanding Graduate and elected to the Del Mar College Hall of Fame. In 1997 she was inducted into the Del Mar College Wall of Honor.

She earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in zoology/chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master's of Science Degree in biology from Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas. In 1970 she graduated from TWU with a Ph.D. degree in radiation biology.

Her academic honoraries include Phi Theta Kappa, International Honorary for Community/Junior Colleges, Beta Beta Beta, National Biological Honorary, Sigma Xi, National Research Honorary, lota Sigma Pi National Chemistry Honorary, Pi Lambda Theta, Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma, education societies.

Dr. Freeman taught in the Corpus Christi Independent School District at Robert Driscoll Middle School, W.B. Ray High School, and Foy H. Moody High School. She also served as Secondary Science Consultant. Dr. Freeman was an Assistant Professor of biology at Wharton Junior College, Wharton, Texas where she was faculty advisor of the Zeta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

In 1974 Dr. Freeman joined the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Texas A&l University-Corpus Christi which would later become Corpus Christi State University and subsequently Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. In 1984 she was promoted to the rank of full professor. She served on numerous university committees that established initial university policies. For 25 years she was co-advisor of the Epsilon of Texas Alumni chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Upon her retirement, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents conferred on her the title Emeritus Professor of Biology.

She was on the Board of Directors of Phi Theta Kappa International and received their Distinguished Alumna Award. In 2005, at their International Convention, the Pi Theta Kappa Board of Directors bestowed on her the Board of Directors' Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Freeman also served as a trustee of the Del Mar College Foundation.

Her interests were varied and included traveling, reading, china painting, and gardening. She was a certified Master Gardener of Texas.

Dr. Freeman was a long time member of the Ayers Street Church of Christ and more recently the Kings Crossing Church of Christ.

On Monday, February 5th, a reception will be held at 9:45 am with a celebration of life beginning at 11:00 am at the Kings Crossing Church Christ with Dr. Les Maloney and Buck Griffith officiating, Graveside service will be immediately following at Seaside Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Stacy Blair, Don Murphey, Tom Reed, and Niall Reed.

Honorary Pallbearers are Ralph Anderson, James Burns, Kenneth Cudd, Willie Kosarek and Jim Hicks.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to may contribute to the Dr. Joyce Freeman and Dr. Janice Freeman Endowed Scholarship for the Biological Sciences at the Del Mar College Foundation or the Kings Crossing Prison Ministries at 5901 Yorktown Blvd.