Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters Billie Mason and Melvina Buie, brother-in-law JT Mason, and granddaughter Emily Ellis. She is survived by her son Kerry Symes, daughter Lori Anderson (Jeff), grandson Cameron Symes (Tara), three great-grandsons Brady, Mason, and Coleman, brother-in-law Herbert Buie, and several nieces and nephews.
The Newsome family moved from their family farm in Mt. Vernon, Texas to city life in Tyler when Joy was ten years old. She attended Douglas Elementary, Roberts Junior High, and Tyler High School where she was a 1950 graduate. In junior high she was a cheerleader, and in high school a member of the Tyler High Blue Brigade. Joy went on to attend Tyler Jr. College and then later Stephen F. Austin State University where she graduated in 1969 with a degree in Elementary Education.
After college graduation, rather than becoming a teacher, Joy worked for many years in a local shoe store owned by her mother. In addition to this during those years, she was devoted to raising her children and taking care of the family home.
A notable detail of Joy’s life is that she was the last living charter member of what is now Rose Heights Church in Tyler where she began attending with her family as a child. For many years at this church, she was an adult Sunday school teacher and served as the church organist and sometimes pianist. Her faith and her knowledge of the Bible were a very important part of her life.
Joy was known for her quick wit. She was a very talented seamstress and decorator and had impeccable style. She also was outstanding with doing her own landscaping and gardening.
A very special thank you goes to Cora Holt, Cheri Thomas, and the entire staff at Prestige Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care as well as Angie Frost and Chaplain Jim Johnson of Paloma Hospice for so lovingly helping Joy navigate her Alzheimer’s journey. To all of them, she became affectionately known as their Church Lady.
There will be a Visitation for Joy on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 11 am to 12 pm at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas, followed by a Private Family Burial, with Pastor Bo Richardson and Pastor Darrell Crawford of Rose Heights Church officiating at Rose Hill Cemetery.
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