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A Tribute to Joyce Payne
Last
Walkaround
Cynthia Lewis
Joyce Payne, began her clowning together. Joyce became a part of my
career in 1987 while working as a family, while I became a part of her
manager at a corporate job that she clown family.
loved. A group of retirees from her Most of Joyce’s training came from
company formed a volunteer clown books on clowning and the WCA’s
club group that did charity work “Clowning Around” magazine and
and performed at public events. The conventions. Linda Hulet and Dena
group offered a clown class for the Piraino were her first female influ-
current employees and out of curios- ences. Additional influences came
ity, Joyce attended. She soon became
“JOY the Magic Clown.” What began from WRCA (now FAVE) Conventions
as a hobby turned into a lifelong love where she met Joyce Quisenberry,
of clowning. Yvonne Brogdon and so many other
talented clown role models. Joyce at-
When I met Joyce in 1994, she had tended Clown Camp and was a mem-
left her corporate job to pursue clowning and had also ber of a local magic club.
opened a Home Day Care. I was ending my maternity
leave and was searching for someone I could trust to Joyce made her own costumes and props. She en-
leave my son with as I was returning to work. Fate led joyed participating in clown competitions at conven-
me to Joyce’s Day Care. My son loved Joyce and play- tions and won multiple awards over the years. She
ing in her beautiful garden that she enjoyed cultivat- was overjoyed when she was recognized by her peers
ing. Little did I know that meeting Joyce would and was awarded “All-Around Clown” by WCA in
be the beginning of our amazing friendship. 2004.
During that time, Joyce also ran a clown In 2010, Joyce served as the Competition
business that provided clowns for birthday director at the WCA Convention in Winnipeg,
parties and company picnic events. She ap- Canada. She was the first president to serve a
proached me one day and told me she thought I two-year term for WCA in 2011-2013. In 2014,
would make a wonderful clown and asked if I’d like the World Clown Association awarded Joyce with
to come by for some classes. That’s when I became the WCA Clown of the Year Award.
“Giggles the Clown.” Joyce and I loved to clown togeth- Joyce found great joy in sharing hope and smiles
er, travel to conventions, shop, line dance and laugh with patients at the Torrance Memorial Medical
28 MAGAZINE
