Paul Milan Joyner was born in Pittsburg, Illinois on October 25, 1926 to James Cecil Joyner and Lora Grace Allen. By the time the 1930 federal census was taken the family had moved to Marion and his father had gone into business that year with his brothers R.R. & W.B. Joyner to form the Joyner Brothers, Inc. The company was a wholesale business selling soda fountain supplies, candies, and tobacco. James, Lora and his family were then living at 500 E. Boulevard in a rental home that cost them $20 per month. Children in the home were Lavonia 10, Paul M. 3 and Edward aged 1.
In the 1940 census, the family had gotten into a permanent home that they owned and valued at $3,000 located at 401 N. Court Street. Paul’s father, James, was 41 and a self-employed wholesale dealer at Joyner Brothers while his 20-year-old daughter Lavonia was working as a bookkeeper at the family business. Paul’s mother, Grace, was 39 and Paul himself was in the 7th grade at the age of 13. James claimed to be working 40-hour weeks and that he had worked 52 weeks out of the previous year earning $2,750.
In 1943, Paul’s father, James, passed away and the following year Paul graduated from the Marion High School Class of 1944. Paul participated in several clubs and sports while in school and since we were in the middle of World War II joined the U.S. Navy on March 27, 1944 upon graduation from high school. Later in that year on August 9, 1944 he was mustered into the Air Technical Training program in Memphis, Tennessee and then into the Navy V-6 program and sent to Jacksonville, Florida. Paul was discharged on April 5, 1946 with an honorable discharge which he recorded at the Williamson County Court House.
The same year that Paul was discharged from the U.S. Navy he was still legally required to fill out a WWII draft record. In the record he recorded that he was living with his mother Grace at 401 N. Court Street and listed no occupation. He was physically described as 5’ 9 ½”, 165 lbs., with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and had an appendectomy scar.
On February 2, 1947 Paul got married to Nita Jo Webb in Piggott, Arkansas. Nita was born in Williamson County on November 27, 1928 to Joe and Gathel V. Webb. Later that year, in September, the couple had their first child, James Ronald Joyner.
By the time the 1950 census was taken, Paul 23 and Nita Jo 21 were living in their permanent home at 708 Circle Drive. Paul was working the family business (Joyner Brothers located at 408 N. Van Buren St.) as a salesman working a 55 hour week. The only child in the home was James R. (Ronald) aged 2.
Paul took an active part in Marion clubs becoming an active member of the Marion Elks Club and the Marion Lion’s club. He was also an enthusiastic high scoring bowler bowling for both the Lion’s Club and Joyner Brothers teams over the 1950’s and 1960’s.
In 1955 Paul was elected vice president of the Marion Lion’s Club and in 1956 was elected as their president. Paul was a member of the Lion’s club Barbershop quartet which included himself, Doc Smith, Jerry Grace & Bill Young. He also sang in groups at funerals and other events.
In 1963, Paul was elected Exalted Knight at the Marion Elk’s Club and when the Quasqui-Centennial was held for the county in 1964, Paul served as chairman of the Sound System committee along with Charles Boatright.
In the late 1960’s and going into the early 1970’s Paul served as the Williamson County Deputy Coroner and was still in that position when he decided to run for city commissioner in 1971. He won that election and served as water & cemetery commissioner under Mayor Robert L. Butler
While attending an informal city council meeting in the Mayor’s office on August 18th, 1972, Paul collapsed and died of a heart attack. His position was filled by commissioner J.W. Durahm.
At the time of his death, Paul was the secretary-treasurer of Joyner Brothers, Inc. Confectionaries, a wholesale tobacco and candy distributing firm on N. Van Buren Street. He was past president of the Illinois Association of Tobacco Distributors and the Marion Lions Club and an active member of the Marion Elks’ Club.
Joyner was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301 of Marion. Mr. Joyner was a graduate of Marion High School and attended Southern Illinois University.
He was survived by his wife, Nita; a daughter, Susan Joyner of Marion; two sons, Ronald Joyner of Marion and Air Force Sgt. Howard Joyner, Lackland AFB, Texas; his mother and a sister, Mrs. Howard May of Marion. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Nita Jo, his wife, lived until January 31, 2013 and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Sources: Federal census records, Marion street directories, WWII draft records, Arkansas marriage records, the Southern Illinoisan and Marion Daily Republican newspapers. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 9/19/2024)