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Joyce Bruce serves hot meals to eleven-year-old Paisley, and her five-year-old brother, Phym after Hurricane Francine. Their mother, Joli, said, “We really appreciate y’all,” she said, referring to the Red Cross,” noting it was their first hot meal in days. Photo by Marko Kokic/American Red Cross
April 17, 2025
By: Andy Martinez, volunteer writer
For 43 years, Joyce Bruce has been the beating heart of the Louisiana Red Cross, a tireless leader and an unstoppable force of compassion. More than a volunteer, she was a pillar of strength, a mentor and an irreplaceable part of the organization. Now, as she steps back from her full-time volunteer position, the impact she leaves behind is immeasurable.
Joyce served in almost every capacity in the Red Cross, some of which no longer exist. From responding to disasters and emergency food distribution to training new volunteers, she did all this with grace, humor and an unrivaled work ethic. If anything needed to be done, Joyce was two steps ahead, and she was going to make it happen.
"She is an unstoppable force that gets stuff done," said Robert Harris, Louisiana Red Cross Chief Operations Officer. A decade ago, when Robert took on the role of Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Director, Joyce became his volunteer partner. Together, they built the program from the ground up, pioneering record-setting Reconnection Workshops for deploying service members. "I am the leader I am today because of Joyce Bruce," Robert said.
At her volunteer retirement party, Joyce was honored by the Louisiana Red Cross for more than 40 years of voluntary service and dedication. Robert Harris, regional chief operating officer, shared his gratitude for her leadership.
At her recent retirement celebration, Joyce’s impact was evident. Her husband, Pete Bruce, a fellow Red Cross volunteer, stood in front of a packed room of volunteers, staff and family and asked, “Raise your hand if you’ve been helped by Joyce?” Every single hand went up.
Pete recalled how being a Red Cross volunteer transformed Joyce from someone who once struggled with public speaking into a strong, confident instructor and leader. "She always would do what it took to make it happen for the Red Cross," he said.
Joyce installs smoke alarms with volunteer Kathleen McGlone at a Sound the Alarm event.
For Joyce, service to others was always a priority. Whether she was leading relief missions during hurricanes or deploying across the country to help those in need, she never hesitated to step up.
Thomas Butler, a longtime Red Cross disaster volunteer, recalled a deployment with Joyce to Houston, Texas, ahead of Hurricane Beryl. "There were mornings where we picked up food at 5 a.m., delivered it to people in need by 9 a.m., and made the same long loop for lunch and dinner," he said.
Another time, Joyce and Thomas were deployed to West Virginia for an Emergency Response Vehicle feeding mission. Mid-deployment, they received word that a hurricane was rapidly approaching Louisiana. They jumped into action, heading home to prepare for the storm. On the way back, they suffered four flat tires but still pushed through, not stopping until they made it back home. That's Joyce, relentless in her mission to serve.
Joyce Bruce helps community volunteer Anthony Alaniz and his mother, Aurora, prepare lunches to take door-to-door to fellow residents at the Stonebrook Senior Residences in Houston, Texas, which lost power and water for five days after Hurricane Beryl. “When people saw y’all’s truck here, they were yelling for joy,” Aurora said. We have food!” Photo by Jaka Vinsek/American Red Cross
For those who have worked alongside Joyce, she was never just a volunteer. "I always introduced Joyce as a partner, not a volunteer," said Chris Nuebel, Disaster Program Manager. He recalled his first day on the job when he walked into his office and found Joyce under his desk with an ethernet cable, already fixing a problem before he even knew it existed. "She has a heart of gold and a dedication that is unmatched," Chris said, wiping away tears.
Even Red Cross leadership found it hard to believe that Joyce was a volunteer. "She was the first one in the office every day and often the last one to leave," said Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, Louisiana Red Cross Regional CEO. "I couldn’t believe she was a volunteer," he admitted.
When Kenneth deployed to Houston for Hurricane Beryl in his first month on the job, Joyce was one of the first familiar faces he saw. Later, during Hurricane Francine, he spent three hours serving meals alongside her and witnessed her compassion in action once again.
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Joyce stepped up to help her community by serving meals when electrical power was still unrestored several days after Hurricane Francine passed through south Louisiana. The American Red Cross provided thousands of hot meals to those affected. Photo by Marko Kokic/American Red Cross
Joyce’s selflessness extended beyond large-scale disaster response. Fellow volunteer Tammy Estes recalled the first time she met Joyce: "Ahead of hurricane season, we spent more than 10 hours outfitting more than 10 Emergency Response Vehicles in the Louisiana heat. She never slowed down or complained. That’s how I met her."
That’s how countless others will remember her: a tireless, compassionate leader who never sought recognition but always made a difference.
Joyce Bruce will leave a legacy that will inspire a new generation of Red Cross volunteers. Though she may be retiring from full-time service, her impact will never fade. The Red Cross family will miss her presence, but her dedication, leadership, and kindness will continue to shape the Red Cross for years to come.
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