Grant F. Anderson Citation for Meritorious Ministry
2016 Honorees of the Queens Federation of Churches

Hon. Daniel W. Joy & Ruby M. Joy

Judge Daniel W. Joy was called to Glory on January 5. He was a retired justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, served 42 years in public service, 18 of which were as a judge. He grew up in Glen Cove on Long Island in the foster home of Maggie Taylor, founder of the Baptist Church there, where he received his religious and moral roots. He attended Brooklyn Law School and practiced law in Bedford Stuyvesant before entering public service in 1957 where he spent 25 years specializing in housing matters. In 1983, Judge Joy was elected to the civil court and retired in 2000 as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, 2nd Department State Appeals Court. He was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Jamaica, where he served as an adult bible teacher, sang in two choirs, chaired the Stewardship Committee and served as president and secretary of the Men’s Ministry. He was a member the of the Call (Pulpit) Committee and the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA). He served on the boards of Lutheran Social Services, Queens Federation of Churches, and the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA) and he was chairman emeritus of the Macon K. Allen Black Bar Association. Judge Joy was married to Ruby, a tax accountant.

It has been said that you can tell a lot about a person by the name that they have. Well at New Hope Lutheran Church we believe that Ruby Joy’s name certainly describes who she is. A ruby is a rare, precious jewel and our Ruby Joy is certainly rare and precious to us.

She is rare because very few persons are as dedicated to serving the Lord as Ruby. Ruby is precious to us because it is through her leadership in various aspects of our church’s finances that we are able to know that our record keeping and our strategic planning in this area are always organized, thorough and accurate. Her last name of Joy clearly describes the joy she brings into our lives just by being the person she is. Ruby never meets a stranger, but always treats others with respect and warmth. Ruby has and continues to have a variety of leadership roles at New Hope. For example, she has served as chairperson of our Finance Committee, coordinator of our counting teams, financial secretary for our Capital Campaign, a member of the Christian Education Committee, Shepherding Committee and the Women of the Evangelical Church in America group, just to name a few of her service activities.
Ruby and Dan have a daughter and four grandchildren, including 27-year old twin grandsons.