Joyce Summers is a major character in Buffy The Vampire Slayer. She is the mother of series protagonist Buffy Summers. While Joyce and her daughter love each other Buffy's duty as the slayer causes several problems in their relationship.
Biography
A number of incidents involving vampires that Buffy couldn't explain made Joyce think her daughter was a troublemaker but when Spike attacked the school Joyce saved her daughter and affirmed her respect in her daughter for being a selfless person. When Joyce discovered Buffy was the slayer she responded badly which contributed to Buffy's decision to leave Sunnydale. Joyce blamed Rupert Giles for Buffy leaving but was able to reconcile with both in time.
Joyce gained Spike's respect by lending him a sympathetic ear over his relationship with Drusilla and helped Angel to realise that continuing the relationship with her daughter would be very selfish of him.
Joyce later became terminally ill and died. Before she passed she reaffirmed to Buffy her love for her daughter Dawn despite the discovery that the memories of her had been implanted by monks. Joyce's death was mourned by Buffy and all her allies, even Spike.