Inquiring Minds want to know....
Joycelyn Diane Strickland-Egans with Question and Answers to Fun Facts:
Were you born in Kansas?
No, I was born in Huntsville, Alabama. But I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas.
Is it easy for you to share your feelings?
When something is great, it’s lemony, when something is crazy, it’s bananas, when something is a problem it’s a bumblebee. Yes, I believe it is better to share your feelings. Emotions are real and should not be bottled up. Just be careful when you share your feelings, that you don’t hurt anyone else’s.
What talents do you have besides writing?
I can twirl a baton, tap dance, do cartwheels and I like to line dance…in fact I have been in over 20 recitals. Cleaning and organizing are some of my strengths. I am also a great public speaker.
What are some groups that you belonged to growing up?
I am a former Girl Scout and cheerleader. I was on the newspaper, yearbook and literary journal staff. I played volleyball and ran track. I was on the drama and forensics team. I served as a Jr. Usher, sang in the choir, was in Christian Youth Fellowship and the Mattie E. Coleman Missionary society.
What schools did you attend?
The elementary school that I attended from Kindergarten through 6th grade, I returned there to teach; for 25 years at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, in KCKS. I graduated from Arrowhead Jr. High, Washington High School, Emporia State University and Kansas State University.
What is unique about your family?
Many names in my family have the initials JD-Jana Dionne (sister), Jason Derrick(brother), Jabrea Danielle (daughter), Justin Dwayne(son). Not to mention JayVonn, Annika Joy, Joseph etc. There are many ministers in my family. I have over 25 cousins that I am extremely close to. I absolutely adore my closest cousins-Terry, Lisa, Penney, Tony, Trevour, Carnell, Damon, Marla, Kristy, Sarah, Gabrielle, Daniel, Stacie, and Ernie. At one point in my life, all of my relatives lived within a few miles of one another and there were seldom times when we were apart. My mother, (Brenda Bryles…I never get to call her that) worked full time at night as a radio technician for 44 years. During the day, she was teaching and training her grandchildren along with numerous other children in her daycare -, “Aunt BB’s Love and Care.” My mother and her siblings spoke Pig Latin so “us
kids, ”wouldn’t know what they were saying. Our family name is Cole.
What are some of your favorites?
3 is my favorite number. The heart is my favorite shape.
My favorite foods are-shrimp, crab cakes, scallops, nachos, sweet potato fries, peach cobbler, lemon meringue pie, salad, smoothies, peanut butter and jelly. I love wearing skirts and dresses.
My favorite color is yellow-lemonheads, sunshine, lemons, daffodils, ducks, #2 pencils, and the school bus. I love arts & crafts. I even like to draw and color. I love to laugh.
What are some of the things that aren’t your favorites?
I detest coffee and soda pop but am in love with tea. I do not like being late, it stresses me out. Misspelling common words, jeans, flip flops, tennis shoes, gambling, pranks, gross smells, bullies and gum are things that I do not like. I am deathly allergic to nuts.
I am scared of scary movies, the car wash, mice, wasting time and needles.
Where are your favorite places?
My favorite places are school, church, the library, bookstores, any mall, or museum and my mother’s house.
What do you collect?
I collect frogs, tiny books and jewelry. I also collect photos and own over 60 photo albums. I also have created a library in my home and I own over 1,000 books.
When is your birthday?
July 16th…On my birthday, Apollo 11 landed on the moon with the first men. I didn’t like that I had a summer birthday and could never have treats for my class. However, my sister (Jana) has a birthday exactly one week after mine. Growing up, we celebrated our birthday parties together. I am the oldest of 3 children.
What are your favorite scriptures?
Favorite scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
“Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
What do you do in your spare time?
I love games, especially Scrabble, Uno, backgammon, jacks, Sorry, charades and Twister. I write, read, dance, create and watch old sitcoms.
How many children do you have?
I have a son, Justin, who is a minister, international basketball player, mentor and community advocate. He is married to my daughter in law, Louise.
I have a daughter Jabrea. She is a competitive dancer, Praise dancer, college graduate of Wichita State and entertains us with one act plays often.
I allowed my children to have any pets that they wanted- we had a puppy, bird, iguana, rabbit, many guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, turtles, and a parakeet. Because of my children I love WWF, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Powerpuff Girls, High School Musical, Blues Clues, Barney, Rugrats, Recess, Bratz, and Arthur. I am married to Arthur Byron Egans, who is a Master Photographer and SkateMaster. He has gifted me 2 bonus sons, Chris and Brandon.
Where have you worked?
I worked for Thatcher’s Funeral home, the Environmental Protection Agency, at Medical Lodge South (nursing home) and for Freedom School. I also was a Residential Assistant in college. I have been blessed to work in education, in schools, all of my adult life.
What do you like best about writing?
I love words, I find myself looking at words and discovering how many words I can find inside them. I also am fascinated with the word of the day. Most of the time writing comes easy for me but even when it is hard, I love the challenge. I like reading what other creative children and adults have written.
When do you write?
I am a morning person, so I am more in tune with ideas earlier in the day. My greatest ideas come from being around people and listening in. I ALWAYS keep a notebook with me, so when inspiration is born, I am ready. I write all of my stories before I type them. I can type fast and I know shorthand.
Who was your favorite teacher?
My mother taught me most things I needed to know about being smart, studying hard, doing my best, to READ for fun and for learning. She taught me to WRITE creatively and often. She taught me not to give up, to hold myself accountable and to speak well. She also taught me the importance of Bible study, prayer and following Christ.
Other teachers that had an impact on me:
Mrs. Rosemary Harris-6th grade elementary Mrs. Bennett- Journalism
Mrs. Mock-English Mrs. Ruth Goheen-4th grade elementary Miss Freddie Davis-1st grade elementary
Mrs. Linda Daniels-mentor Mrs. Terry Grimes-mentor Mr. Lenis Boswell-Sunday School
What do you like best about church?
I really love Sunday School and the studying of God’s Word. I love God’s people. When people are trying to be the best Christians that they can be, it’s really special. Of course I like the singing and the praise. I like dressing up to go to church because I want to give God my best. I also enjoy welcoming guests, Sunday dinners and hearing the beautiful music played on the piano and the organ. I really enjoyed the fact that my entire family grew up worshipping together at our home church, St. Peter C.M.E.
How would your friends describe you?
I am loyal to my friends. They would say that I am supportive, fun to be around and very vocal. I am proud of my friends’ accomplishments and like to spend time with them, even doing nothing. I have friends who I may not talk to for a while, but when we get together, it’s as if we never were apart. Some of my friends were in my life for a season but I would never forget them or their impact on my life. I met some of my best friends in school, in my sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.), and of course, in church.