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BILL JOYNER
- 69 - Coach
LAKELAND
| Former Lakeland High School
golf coach Bill Joyner died at his Lakeland home Thursday night
after a lengthy illness.
Joyner
was 69. He died of renal failure. Joyner was a diabetic and
had been receiving dialysis treatments for the past seven years, three
days a week, said his daughter, Elizabeth Anne Gross of Lakeland. He died peacefully
surrounded by family and friends, said his brother-in-law, Les Jackson
of Lakeland. "He
was at home last night in his recliner. That's where he wanted to be,"
Jackson said. Joyner
and his wife, Cookie, celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary Aug.
23. They have
three children, David, Mark and Elizabeth Anne — along with four
grandchildren, all of whom live in Lakeland.
Even
in declining health, Joyner went to Southern Dunes in Haines City last
weekend to watch his granddaughters, Ashlyn and Kate Joyner, win their
age groups and player of the year honors on the Central Florida Junior
Golf Tour.
Joyner
was a constant presence at golf tournaments around the county. He loved
to watch his former players and son David compete. He was a mentor to
many golfers.
He
received the Charley Stine Award for unselfish contributions to the
game of golf in Polk County earlier this month at Lone Palm.
"He's
probably up in heaven looking for some golf clubs to give somebody
because he was always trying to help somebody," Jackson said.
Joyner
turned the Lakeland High boys golf program into a state contender. He coached the Dreadnaughts
for 16 years, from 1993 to 2009. Joyner's former players revered him and kept in touch as
their college and professional careers developed. Two former players —
Logan Blondell and Brian Richey — won on the NGA Pro Golf Tour in
back-to-back weeks earlier this month.
"They
all loved him," Gross said. "He was well-loved by everybody. He was
just a positive person, the kind of person you want to be around." Under Joyner, the
Dreadnaughts won 10 district titles, five regional tournaments and
numerous Polk County championships.Lakeland qualified for the
state high school golf tournament five times, including three straight
from 2000 to 2002. Dreadnaught teams placed in the top five at state,
but didn't win a title.
Joyner
was a coach in various sports for 45 years — golf, football,
baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling and track and field. He also played all those
sports at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. — except golf. He took
up golf later in life, becoming a 7-handicap. Joyner coached dominant
football and basketball teams at Seth McKeel Junior High School, where
his football teams never lost a game and all five of his starting
basketball players dunked a basketball in one game.
"He
lived a great life," said Jackson, who coached baseball and football
with Joyner
"Some
of his wonderful memories were the fact that he was able to give all
his children an education," Jackson said. "That was his dream."Joyner rose from humble
beginnings, born in 1944 at Rocky Mount, N.C. He was the only child of
the late Joseph William Joyner and Frances Harris Joyner,
who moved the
family to Orlando. They moved when Joyner was 13 so his father, who was
legally blind, could attend the Florida Blind School. He went to
Memorial High School in Orlando until his junior year, then at Miami
Jackson High.
Joyner
was inducted into the Polk
County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He received the Jock Terry
Inspiration Award in 2009 for showing great character through
adversity. And he was The Ledger's boys golf coach of the year eight
times.
Joyner
operated the clock for all of Lakeland High's home football and
basketball games for 19 years. Jackson said a moment of silence was planned before
kickoff at Lakeland High's game at Bryant Stadium against Treasure
Coast Friday night.
A
memorial service is planned on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at First
Presbyterian Church in Lakeland. A reception will follow. No viewing is
planned.
>Original Story By: Del Milligan can be reached
at del.milligan@theledger.com or at 863-802-7555.
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WILLIAM JOYNER, Jr.
– 69 – Coach Joyner - Obit
LAKELAND - Joseph
William Joyner Jr. (Bill), was received by the loving arms of his Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ as he peacefully passed away Thursday August
28, 2014, in his home from Renal failure. He was surrounded by his
loving, devoted family. This home was not his own, he was just a
passing through. He has now reached his permanent address at his
mansion in the sky.
Bill as he was
called, was born November 12, 1944, in Rocky Mount, NC, son
of Joseph William and
Frances Harris Joyner. He had a passion for
sports and truly had a talent and taught himself how to play many
sports including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and golf.
His father
was
legally blind and there were no provisions for the blind back then. His
parents moved to Orlando, FL, when he was 13 so his father would be
able to attend the Florida Blind School. While in Orlando Joyner went
to Memorial Junior High and played football, baseball, and basketball.
At the end of football season his family moved to Miami and he finished
out his junior high year. He attended Miami Jackson High
School, played football, baseball, and basketball, and graduated
in 1962, and went on to attend Bryan College in Dayton, TN,
and graduated in 1966. He was a coach for 45 years,
coaching football, basketball, soccer, wrestling, track, and golf. He
dedicated many years to helping his students and athletes achieve
success, by winning on and off the athletic field. He is best known for
his sense of humor and ability to make others laugh. He was loved by
all. He was a positive person, the kind of person you want to be around.
He is
survived by his
wife Corabel Joyner, of 47 years, sons David Joyner (Carrie), Mark
Joyner (Shannon), and daughter Elizabeth Anne Joyner (Marshall Gross)
and 4 grandchildren Ashlynn and Kate Joyner, Keagan and Riley Joyner
all from Lakeland.
A Memorial
Service
will be held Tuesday September 2, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church at
4:30 pm. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the National
Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY, 10016 or to The
Bill Joyner Memorial Scholarship Program for future golfers P.O. Box
8003 Lakeland, FL, 33801 – Ledger, Sunday, Aug.31, 2014
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