Joyce Delores Jenkins Harris of Stuttgart departed this world at home in Stuttgart, Ark., on the evening of Dec. 16, 2020.
Joyce was born in Des Arc, Ark., on Oct. 26, 1930. She was a devoted wife, loving and beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a role model to all for honesty, integrity and hard work. She was a homemaker for much of her married life but went on to work outside the home at Ragan Rexall for many years and as a seamstress for Knoll Cleaners for many years as well. She then worked side by side with her husband Howard to build a successful rental property business, not only managing the books, but also acting as a painter, carpenter and plumber. She was an avid baseball fan and with Howard were fixtures at John Cain Park for more than 30 years, he as a manager and later as an umpire and she keeping the scorebook. To generations of boys she was Mrs. Harris, the score keeper. They also followed Major League Baseball but especially their beloved St. Louis Cardinals. In her younger days she was a music minister at Calvary Baptist Church and often sang in services and local events sometimes solo, but normally as a part of The Trio.
She was preceded in death by her best friend and husband, Howard H. Harris; parents, Edmond and Irene Jenkins; brother, Charles Ed Jenkins; and sisters, Wilma Jenkins Davis and Eddie Jean Jenkins Dixon.
She is survived by a sister, Peggy Jenkins King (James); three sons, Gene Harris (Marie), Keith Harris (Terri) and Terry Harris (Robin); three grandchildren, Tiffany Harris Stack (Michael), Lindsey Harris Gates (Michael) and Terry Lee Harris Jr. (Kaylie); and four great-grandchildren, as well as a host of friends whose lives she has touched over a lifetime.
She was a member of Southside Baptist Church.
A special thanks to Dr. Chris Morgan for his kindness, wisdom, care and support throughout this journey. The nurses and staff of Baptist Hospital in Stuttgart and a very special thanks to Becky White and her team of caregivers: Rebecca, Candace, Kendall and Lorie for their loving care and patience during these last days.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Southside Baptist Legacy Fund, P.O. Box 424, Stuttgart, Ark., 72160.
A memorial service, officiated by Bro. Gregg Greenway, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Southside Baptist Church.
Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.
A life is not defined by the words of an obituary, but in the way it was lived.
So sorry for your loss.