Zelda E. Joyner

Sister Zelda Eileen Joyner was born on March 26,1961 to the late Elder Allen Joyner, Sr. and the late St. Inez Joyner. Zelda grew up in the United House of Prayer in Burton, in both the original site on Pearl Street and in the present-day location. She served wholeheartedly as an original member of the Madison Nurses, and as a member of the #2 Choir. Her signature song that she led in the choir with a melodic soprano voice was “Order My Steps in Your Word”. 

Zelda was an avid learner at Bayside High School in Virginia Beach, and after graduation, she sought to further advance her knowledge in the field of English literature and later matriculated to prestigious universities to enrich the educational field. She attended Virginia State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English. Subsequently, she attended Morgan State University and earned a Master of Science degree in English. Zelda exhibited a love for service that permeated throughout the classroom among her peers and professors and ultimately spread into her community. 

She personified the principles of service and sisterhood as she served as a member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.  She continued this lifelong dedication to service by inspiring the youth and expanding the imagination of her students she taught in English classes, which included advanced Honors level courses at Menchville High School, Bayside High School, Indian River High School, Lake Taylor Middle School, Kempsville Middle School, Larkspur Middle School, and Manor High School, all throughout the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. One of her most fulfilling teaching successes was helping students accomplish advanced passing scores on the Virginia Standards of Learning test for English. She taught a plethora of high school students who went on to play in the NFL, and thanked her for her guidance, support, and encouragement as a teacher.

Her greatest achievement was instilling a love for education and service in her son, Lafayette Chase Cashton Campbell, who graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Administration in Business from Virginia Wesleyan University. Her legacy for educational excellence lives on within her son, family members, students, and all who were graced to have encountered her infectious smile, her kindness, and her love. 

Zelda leaves to cherish her memories; her son: Lafayette Chase Cashton Campbell; her siblings: Ives Clark (Claude, Sr. ), Prezillia DeGree, Charlie Elliott, Jr., Sandra Joyner, all of Chesapeake, VA., Daryl Joyner, of Clinton, MD, Allen Joyner, Jr.(Dorothy) of Portsmouth, VA, Rose Jean Wright of Virginia Beach, VA; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.