Joyce Copsey Alvey, 79, of St. Mary's County, Maryland, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026, at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown. She was born on May 26, 1946, in Leonardtown, Maryland.

Joyce was the daughter of the late Clements W. Copsey, Sr., and Mary Rainwater Copsey. She grew up on the shores of Horse Landing, Mechanicsville, where she learned early the value of hard work and family. As a teenager, she worked alongside her parents and siblings selling crabs and seafood her father caught from the river. Those early years helped lead to the family's establishment of Copsey Seafood Restaurant in Mechanicsville that her two brothers continued for over 35 years.

After completing her education, Joyce began a long and dedicated career in federal service. She traveled for work at Buzzard Point in Washington, D.C., for a few years then joined the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where she served for more than 30 years before retiring. Joyce was known for her steady work ethic, her telling stories of growing up St. Mary's County, and her gift for telling stories about the county and the people who call it home.

Joyce was a devoted wife and mother. She shared more than 20 loving years of marriage with her husband, Roger G. Alvey, Sr. Together they built a life rooted in respect, partnership, and laughter. Joyce loved to laugh at every chance she got—often with Roger being the primary instigator of the laughter. She spent her entire life in St. Mary's County.

In addition to her husband, Joyce is survived by her children, Debbie Bohle (Cindy) and Becky Bohle (Ambrose) of Mechanicsville; her two sisters; Bernice Newton of Mechanicsville, and Elaine Gass (Steve) of Hollywood; and her sister-in-law, Judy Copsey of Mechanicsville. Additionally, she is survived by Roger's children; Roger Alvey, Jr. (Peggy) of Avenue, Brenda Alvey (Joe) of Mechanicsville, Hank Alvey (Missy) of Mechanicsville, Debbie Demarr (Bobby) of Mechanicsville, Dianna Threatt (Kevin) of Lexington Park, and Maria Burch (Brenden) of Great Mills.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Irene Virginia Hill (Jimmy) and two brothers, Clements William "Dagger" Copsey, Jr. (Gloria), and Roger Wayne Copsey.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at LaPlata United Methodist Church Cemetery, Dentsville, MD.