Joycene (Ashford) Roussell

Joycene Ashford Roussell was born in Newark, New Jersey, on September 1st 1958. She was the youngest of two children of Betty Ethel Goss-Ashford (d. 1990) and Freddie D. Ashford of Louisville, MS. Joycene married Eugene Roussell on June 19,1999 in Chicago. Joycene and Eugene have been living in the Houston area since 2000. Joycene made her transition from this life on February 10, 2022 and is now with her mother.
 
Joycenne began her education in Newark, New Jersey at McKinley Elementary School and then moved to Chicago, Illinois to be closer to family in 1963. Joycene continued her education in Chicago Public Schools with one-year attendance at Louisville Junior High during her 8th grade year. Joyce graduated from John Marshall Harlan High School in 1976 on the south side of Chicago. She attended college at Southern Illinois University but left early because she was homesick. Returning to Chicago, she continued her studies and graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in Financial Accounting. She was employed by Provident Hospital (Chicago) and quickly rose to become manager of budgets. She was very happy at Provident knowing how her work enable the hospital to provide some of the best healthcare in the city.
With her father support Joycene was able to purchase a three-unit apartment building that provided safe and secure housing for her beloved Aunt Emma and cousin Margie Readus and her children Lisa, Walter, and Brian.
 
Growing up Joycene was known for her elegant fashion sense. She had a great love for fashion and was always immaculately dressed. She often joked about her love of shoes and shopping at the high-end department stores.
 
During a downturn in the local economy, Joycene chose to relocate to Houston, Texas. While in Texas, Joycene was the Co-Founder/CEO of Area Courier Services, Owner/Founder of RJA tax service, a member of Windsor Village Church where she served as an Accountant of the Financial Ministry. She was a member of the SBA of Houston and Missouri City and Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. She was a graduate of Fort Bend Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program.
 
Joycene enjoyed playing tennis and met her beloved husband Eugene on a tennis court. She also enjoyed traveling, Facebook, playing solitaire and watching “The View”. Joycene really loved and enjoyed her family and would do anything to assist anyone in need. On several occasions she opened her house to her New Orleans family when hurricanes ran them from  New Orleans. Joycene is survived by her husband Eugene Roussell, father Mr. Freddie Ashford (Gloria), brother Thomas Ashford (Courtney), nephew Rameses (Diana), nieces Makeda Ashford, and Isis A. Swain (Kehlin). Mother-in-laws Mildred Roussell and Elizabeth Thomas, brother-in-law Calvin Roussell (Verenia) sister-in-laws Yolanda Roussell, Rosalyn R. Hunter, Carolyn R. Quinn (Wayne), Patrease R. Canty (Don).
 
Joycene is preceded in death by her mother Betty Ethel Goss- Ashford, father-in-law Eugene Roussell Jr. and brother-in-law Aubrey Hunter (Rosalyn).