Joye L. Spears, 91 passed from this life on September 9, 2018. Joye was born in Norphlet, Arkansas on February 15, 1927, to Archie Dempsey and Ida Gertrude McElroy Langston. The family was displaced by the 1927 flood and moved to Sicily Island, Louisiana and later settled near the Society Hill Community in Jefferson Davis County where they farmed and Joye was raised with her brother and sisters. She graduated from Oak Vale High School as salutatorian in 1945, then attended Clarke Business College and Hinds Junior College in Jackson, MS. Joye was a professional secretary her entire career, beginning with the Child Welfare Department of the Department of Public Welfare. She spent 34 years as an executive secretary at Mississippi Power and Light Co. (Entergy) until retiring in 1991. During the years before computers and delete keys, secretaries were an essential part of business. She considered being a secretary a noble profession, as important to the business as the engineers and accountants for whom she worked. She continued her education and in 1970 received the Certified Professional Secretary designation. She was a member of the Malabouchia Chapter of the Professional Secretaries International where she served in many capacities, including president and served for years as chairman of the Membership, Education and Program Committee of the International Association. For 20 years she spent her weekends working as a waitress at Cindy's Fish House in Brandon, she loved the interaction with the customers, owners and employees and it was fun for her as it was much different than her office work. After retirement she served as secretary of the Reddy Retirees for a number of years as well as the Clinton Community Nature Center.
Joye was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson where she glorified and enjoyed the Lord. She was a member of the choir for many years and served as secretary for several Sunday School Departments and was chairman of the Grounds Committee. She loved to travel and had visited most of the states in the US and parts of Canada and Mexico. She enjoyed gardening and flowers while she owned her home and farm and later she served as a board member of the Clinton Nature Center. Mostly she loved her church, family and friends always supporting them in any way that she could.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, sisters, Ruth Bowen, Miriam Langston and Gaye Branton.
Joye is survived by a brother, A.D. Langston of Starkville, a son, John (Carol), grandchildren Jessica and Stephen all of Clinton, nephews, nieces and many dear friends.
Visitation will be held from 4pm - 7pm Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton. Funeral services will be at 11am Thursday in the funeral home chapel. Joye will be laid to rest at 3pm in Society Hill Cemetery in Prentiss.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Jackson, MS or the charity of your choice.