Funeral services for Joyce Watson Edwards, 81, were held at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 405 East 5^th St., Homer, LA, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Visitation was at 10:00 am with the funeral service that  followed at 11:00 and was officiated by Bro. Tim Cole. Interment was at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, LA.

Joyce was born October 11, 1942 to William Arthur and May Merriel Watson in Mt. Holly, Arkansas.  She entered into rest Sunday, May 5, 2024 at her home following a lengthy illness.

Joyce graduated from Mt. Holly High School where she was class secretary and named All-County for basketball.  Her love for basketball continued throughout her life as she attended hundreds of games to watch her daughter and granddaughters play.  After graduating from high school and business school, Joyce started her career at Lion Oil Company in El Dorado, Arkansas.  During this time, she met her future husband, Lum Edwards, at Livestock Producers in Homer, LA.  They were married on June 14, 1969.  Making their home in Homer, Joyce worked as a legal secretary for Meadors and Meadors and later Shaw and Shaw where she continued to work for Marshall Shaw for the remainder of her career.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, W. A. Watson and May Merriel Watson, her husband James “Lum” Edwards, sister Peggy Watson Hight, brother Willard Watson and nephew Wayne Watson.  She is survived by one daughter, Toni Edwards, and granddaughters Haley and Emily Barrios, brother-in-law, Johnny Hight, and nieces and nephews: Paul Hight (Kristi), Missy Barnett (Buddy), Gordon Watson, and Diane Bailey (Michael), and a number of great nieces and great nephews.

Pallbearers were: Paul Hight, Buddy Barnett, Heath Barnett, Rilee Bailey, Kimbell Hays, and Camron Carraway.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to St. Joseph Hospice, Stephanie Gorman, Christina Sebastian, Tenesha Curry, RaKeyla Burns, and Diane Tabor for the care and compassion shown to momma during her illness.

For friends considering a memorial honoring Joyce, her family suggests St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel  (318) 927-6110