Oxana Kovalevskaya Joyner

Oxana Petrovna Kovalevskaya Joyner, 52, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away on May 25, 2025 at Transitions Life Care after several days at Rex UNC Hospital.

Oxana was the only child of the late Petr Kovalevskiy and Ninel Kovalevskaia. Born in Poltava, Ukraine on August 12, 1972, Oxana graduated with a Nursing Diploma from Ufa Medical College No.1 in Ufa, Russia. Her love of animals inspired her to go on to earn a diploma in Veterinary Science and Animal Science from Baskir State Agricultural University in Ufa and she worked in Russia as a Veterinary Doctor for several years. She later earned a diploma as an Economist Manager at the same university and worked as an accountant. She came to the US in 2008 where she married Doug Joyner and worked in retail, as a bus driver, and most recently as a security officer.

Oxana enjoyed fitness, ice skating, cross-country skiing and fishing in Russia.  She loved swimming, going to the beach, crafts, crocheting, amusement and water parks, the NC State Fair, museums, and traveling. She was cheerful and brought joy to everyone she met, embracing life with a great sense of humor, always looking on the bright side. She was a delightful person and made friends easily, always willing to help others whenever possible. She loved making crafts and sometimes sold them to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to St. Jude's(www.stjude.org).

Oxana is survived by her husband and love of her life, Doug Joyner, her Mom, Ninel, her cousins and her many friends who loved her and will never forget her beautiful smile.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m., with burial following at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements by Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

www.cswfuneralhome.com