Betty Jean Joyner

Dr. Betty Jean "B.J." Joyner – Ratcliff, 93, of Corpus Christi, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Dr. Joyner-Ratcliff was born in Holdenville, Oklahoma October 28, 1928. She grew up in San Diego, California but had a strong desire to see other parts of our country and have new experiences. She decided to move and enroll in Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. That decision turned out to be a major life-changing event. During that first semester, she had the opportunity to grow closer to her grandmother and other relatives living in the Texas Panhandle. She was awarded a scholarship that helped cover her college expenses, allowing her to focus on her studies. She earned both a Bachelor's of Business Administration in 1962 and a Master's of Business Education in 1963 from ENMU. Betty even met and married her first husband, Donald Eugene Joyner, in Portales, New Mexico. She and her first husband moved several times, pursuing their PhDs. Their quest necessitated moves to and around the following states: California, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, and then settling in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In 1974, Dr. Joyner joined the Corpus Christi State University (now known as Texas A&M Corpus Christi) as the Business Management Professor.

On July 8, 1976, a Corpus Christi Caller-Times article read, "Dr. Betty Joyner has added a "first" to her many accomplishments in the field of management and education. She is reported as the first woman to be named an associate profressor in the College of Business at Texes A&I-Corpus Christi." She was also recognized in the same 1976 article "as the first and only woman ever to receive a doctorate in business from Louisiana Tech University."

Dr. Joyner retired from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where she was awarded Professor Emeritus status. She enjoyed traveling and exploring attractions and attempted to learn and fit into the local culture wherever she visited. She also enjoyed hiking and reading.

Dr. Joyner was married to her first husband, Dr. Donald Eugene Joyner, for 43 years until his passing in 2004. In December of 2014, Dr. Joyner moved into Mirador Retirement Community, where she was known as "B.J." While living at Mirador, she met and married her second husband, Stephen Donald Ratcliff in June of 2017, until his death on August 28, 2020.

Dr. Joyner established scholarships at Eastern New Mexico University andTexas A&M-Corpus Christi and gave faithfully to the church and her other favorite charitable causes.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to scholarships funds set up in Drs. Joyners' names at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412 or at Eastern New Mexico University, Station 8, 1500 S. Ave. K, Portales, New Mexico, 88130, or to The First United Methodist Church Foundation Fund, 900 S. Shoreline, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.
 

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