Joyce Smith

Graveside services honoring the life of Joyce Smith, 99, were held May 25 at Toro Cemetery in Florien with the Rev. Johnny Dunn officiating. Lola Joyce Arthur, born January 26, 1917 in Florien. Her parents were Benjamin Clinton Arthur and Elizabeth Tynes Arthur. She was a member of Toro Baptist Church and Union Baptist Church when young. After graduating from Florien High School she attended Charity Hospital School of Nursing until interrupted by World War II. She went to Alabama and worked in defense industry in the production of military equipment so the men could go to war. She worked at Republic Steel Plant as an electric and acetylene welder, inspector for 105 millimeter artillery shell production, as a machinist reading blueprints and making parts for machinery and as a drill press operator After the war, Joyce worked in nursing for several years in Natchitoches as well as jobs at Northwestern State College. She was a long time member of Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches and was a member of the Joyful Sounds Westside Church traveling choir for many years. She met and married her late husband, Clifford Smith, a World War II veteran in 1966. They were members of Emmanuel Baptist Church and later Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches. She sang with the Westside Church Gospel Singing group, the Joyful Sounds, for many years. He preceded her in death in February 1993. Proceeding her in death along with her parents are her husband, Clifford Smith, and siblings Benjamin Harvey Arthur, Henry Howard Arthur, Myrtie Arthur Dillard, Gertie Arthur Patrick, Lena Arthur Cook, Ethel Arthur Jordan, and Robert Floyd Arthur. She is survived by nieces and nephews. Rose-Neath Funeral Home Many Chapel – (318) 256-0690