Joy Ann Hyatt
Joy Hyatt was born on December 6, 1940 to Jiles and Inez West Dowden. She graduated from Plainview High School in 1960. She married the love of her life, Micheal Hyatt on April 1, 1961 in Prewitt’s Chapel Baptist Church. She and Micheal were married for 62 years. Joy was a homemaker who loved and cared for not only her children but her nieces, nephews and many others who wandered in and out of their home. But watch out if you stepped out of line, because if she grabbed a flyswatter, you knew you were in big trouble. She loved her children, but adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Joy was an excellent cook. Her steak and gravy and banana pudding are legendary. Joy loved attending church and worshipping with her family and friends. She was passionate about playing the piano and she shared this gift by playing the piano for many years at Prewitt’s Chapel Baptist Church. Often you could find her in the big living area at her piano playing while singing and worshipping the Lord.
While caring for her family she worked tirelessly along side Micheal as they ran a successful broiler farm business for over 33 years. Not only did she work in the chicken houses, but she also kept up with the business financials and bookkeeping. She taught many high school kids how to properly clean chicken feed lids also known as red lids. Many of these kids didn’t last long with this tedious chore. She was a fearless snake killer as long as she was armed with a hoe or shovel and with the chicken farm, there were many who met their demise. She loved to fish and has caught many perch and brim in her time.
She was a devout Christian who loved her Lord, strong in her faith, and before her feet hit the floor she was studying and reading the Word of God. Always making notes and writing scriptures in other notebooks that we will find for days to come. We have often heard, “A bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” Joy’s bible is falling apart, tattered and well-worn, as a visual reminder of her testimony as a woman of faith.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Prewitt’s Chapel with Rev. Wayne Chance and Rev. Nick Hilton officiating. Burial will follow in the Prewitt Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 1:00 PM at Prewitt’s Chapel.
Pallbearers will be: Steven Dowden, Bobby Wayne Dowden, Kevin Beverly, Corey Hyatt, Jon Hyatt, Gideon Hyatt and Jed Gaddis.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Larry Averitt, Neil Thaxton and Kevin Killian.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory to Prewitt’s Chapel Cemetery at P.O. Box 185 Hornbeck, LA 71439 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at Memorial Giving 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or online at memorials@stjude.org.
