Joyce Hutchins

WELLS – Joyce Hutchins, a longtime resident of Highpine, in Wells, and formerly of Augusta, died on July 14, 2022. She was 93 years old.

Miss Hutchins was born in Sanford on Oct. 1, 1928. She was the only child of Lucille (Akroyd) and Ralph G. Hutchins. She attended schools in Wells, graduating as Valedictorian of the class of 1946 at Wells High School. She graduated from Colby College in Waterville in 1951, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in English and Psychology.

After graduation, she accepted employment with the State of Maine, working as a social worker in the public welfare service. Her social service career spanned thirty-five years, including work with the aged, blind, and disabled. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from the Boston University School of Social Work in 1959.

After a three-year bout with rheumatoid arthritis, Miss Hutchins relearned the process of walking; and returning to Maine, became the Social Work Consultant for the State of Maine programs for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled. She held this position for 12 years, moving to specialized work with the blind which enabled her to develop the first prevention of blindness programs in Maine.

Miss Hutchins retired from state service in 1986. She became the first Executive Director of Maine’s Prevention of Blindness Programs, Inc. and continued to nurture this program through 1999. She developed and put into place a statewide cadre of volunteers who became the backbone of this program.

After her second retirement, Miss Hutchins became active in the development of the Wells High School Alumni Association and served as its first president. She served her community through the Wells Chamber of Commerce, working in the Information Services Division for several years. She more recently was a station host volunteer at Wells Regional Transportation Center.

Miss Hutchins was a member of Sanford Baptist Church, baptized in 1946, and South Parish Congregational Church of Augusta. She has been a member of the Congregational Church of Wells and a long time member of its choir. She has been active with the Ladies Benevolent Society of the church. Her earlier associations include the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Augusta, the Augusta Branch of the American Association of University Women, the Zonta Club of the Augusta area and later the Zonta Club of York County. She was among the earliest social workers to be licensed in the State of Maine and was active in the National Association of Social Workers. She was also a member of the National Association of Vision Professionals.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at the Carll-Heald and Black Funeral Home, located at 580 Main St. in Springvale. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 21. Interment will be at the Ocean View Cemetery in Wells.

Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.