http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Wednesday, June 6, 2024 21
Joyce June
Mead, 87, passed
away on June 3,
2024, peacefully at
home after a short
battle with cancer.
Born as Joyce June
Wood on March
18, 1937, in Battle
Creek, Michigan,
she was the daugh-
ter of Leslie and
Minnie (Cross)
Wood.
On January 22,
1955, Joyce married Robert “Jack” C. Sneed in
Angola, IN.
Joyce is survived by her five children, Sandi
(Blair) Brown of Battle Creek, Robert (Clair)
Sneed Jr. of Oklahoma, Ronald (Ginger) Sneed
of Florida, Ronda (Danny King) Burgess of Battle
Creek, Lisa Browne of Kentucky. She was also
blessed with 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grand-
children and dear friend Carol Shields.
She was preceded in death by her first hus-
band, Robert “Jack” Sneed; second husband,
Robert James Mead; great-grandson Robert
Raymond; parents; and her brothers, Dean
Wood, Gerald Wood and Loyal Wood.
Joyce attended Cornerstone Community
Church. She enjoyed her flowers, puzzles, fishing
and her dogs.
Visitation will be held at Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service on Thursday, June 6, 2024,
from 10-11 a.m., with the funeral service to fol-
low at 11 a.m.
Interment will take place at Memorial Park
Cemetery in Battle Creek.
Memorials may be made to the American
Cancer Society or the Calhoun County Animal
Shelter.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service – 269-788-9800; http://www.baxter-
funeral.com.Request your copy.
(269) 209-4029
bcfinancialgroup.orgThe Michigan Youth Challenge
Academy (MYCA) admissions pro-
cess is now open for the academy’s
next class, Cycle #51, which begins
July 14, spokesperson Michael Kroll
of the Michigan Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs said
Obituaries
Next Youth Challenge Academy admissions now open
from Lansing.
To begin the application process,
interested youth and parents can
visit the admissions page online at
https://www.michigan.gov/myca/
admissions-process.
In-person information sessions, a
mandatory part of the application pro-
cess, are listed on the MYCA events
page.
For more information:
Area codes 810, 586, 248 and 947- contact Jayme Ham at (269) 968-
1397.
Area codes 231, 269, 517, 616 and
906 – contact Joan Miller at (269)
968-1368.
Area codes 313, 734 and 989 – con-
tact Yasser Quadri at (269) 968-1048
The MYCA is a cost-free alterna-
tive education program that offers at-
risk youth the opportunity to change
their future, Kroll said.
As part of the curriculum, cadets
participate in drill and ceremony for-
mations, meet physical fitness stan-dards, perform community service
and receive classroom instruction.
Candidates for the academy are
15-1/2 to 18 years old and are at risk
of not graduating high school.
Graduates of the MYCA are eli-
gible for the Michigan Job Challenge
Program, an extension program of
the MYCA, which teaches workplace
essentials, provides opportunities to
learn a skilled trade and assists with
job placement.