Joyce Priscillia

Byrd-Rush

Joyce Priscilla Byrd-Rush affectionately known as "Honey" amongst her family and peers, transitioned home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Joyce was born on July 23, 1957 in Toledo Ohio; the 4th child of Jimmie and Claudene Byrd.

Born into a Christian home with a family of singers, musicians and songwriters, Joyce gave her life to Christ at an early age and worked faithfully in the Church beginning at New Home Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. L. F. Perryman. Her continued Church involvement included True Vine Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. W. L. Barnes, New Light Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. M. L. Gabriel, Riverside Baptist Church, Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. Raymond G. Bishop, Jr, First Church Of God under the Pastorate of Bishop Robert A. Culp and Harvest Christian Center. She attended Hamilton Elementary School and after graduating from Woodward High School she studied at Bowling Green State University and later attended and graduated from the University Of Toledo with a Bachelors of Education in Music and a Masters of Arts in Music Performance. Joyce shared her music gifts with various community choirs and groups over the years including the Lee Owens Mass Ensemble, Woodward High School Afro-American Gospel Choir, Toledo Angelic Choir, University Of Toledo Gospel Choir, Chris Byrd & True Victory, and the Glass City Youth Choir. Her brothers Dennis and Chris included Joyce as a lead soloist on all of their professional recording projects with the Toledo Angelic Choir, Byrd Family Singers, Mt. Zion Young Adult Choir, University Of Toledo Gospel Choir and Chris Byrd & True Victory. In 2006 Joyce's professional solo recording project was released as "Priscilla" entitled "One Touch". Aside from recording with her two brothers, Joyce has also recorded with various Recording Artists, including Rance Allen, Edwin Hawkins, Keith Dobbins and Al Hobbs just to name a few. Joyce recently received a Legacy Award for her service as the Minister Of Worship for 20 years, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist church in Toledo Ohio. Joyce also founded Charismata Academy Of Music in 1994 along with Mary Ann Dunston where she has taught many singers and musicians in the community as well as teaching music in the Toledo Public School system at DeVeaux Elementary School Grades K-8 up until the time of her passing. In 1983 Joyce and Milton Rush were married and they gave birth to three amazing children, Janeisha Rush, Milton L. Rush, Jr. and Josiah L. Rush.

She was preceded in death by Parents Jimmie Lee and Claudene Byrd, Husband Milton Rush Sr., and Mother in Law Tammi Calhoun, and many loving aunts and uncles.

Survived loved ones are her children, Janeisha Rush, Milton Rush Jr., and Josiah (Destiny) Rush Sr.; her grandchildren Jeremiah McCoy, Tre'Sean Chenault, and Josiah Rush Jr.; siblings: Min. Jimmie (Deborah) Byrd, Dennis (Rosalyn) Byrd, Shirley Powe, Anthony (Jeaneal) Byrd and Chris (Bridgette) Byrd; her brother in law Larry Calhoun) along with a host of nieces and nephews, and aunts and uncles who will all miss her dearly.