Born on October 11, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas, Joyce was the daughter of Ward Beecher Byers and Georgia Lee Long. She grew up there, and later moved to Clinton, MS, where she graduated from high school in 1960. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College in 1964. She went on to work in the Trust Department of Deposit Guaranty National Bank, drove a school bus for the Clinton Public School District, and finished her work life as the office manager at Systronics.
On June 13, 1964, Joyce married Claude Persons in Provine Chapel on the Mississippi College campus. Claude survives her. She is also survived by her son Claude “Ricky” (Amy) Persons, Jr. of North Vernon, Indiana, and her daughter Beth Persons (Danny) Taylor of Brandon, MS; grandchildren, Grace Persons of Madison, IN, Clay Persons of Crittenden, KY, Zoe Persons and Josiah Persons of North Vernon, IN, and Matthew Taylor and Josh Taylor of Brandon, MS. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Ward Byers and Georgia Byers Stanford.
Joyce loved Texas bluebonnets, dolphins, and her cats (Speedy, Ace and Ginger, and Buddy). Joyce was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young and a willing working mother when it is what her family needed. Joyce’s passion was to teach preschool children (4–5 year olds) about Jesus. She taught a preschool Sunday School class at Parkway Baptist Church in Jackson and then Clinton for nearly 60 years. She taught her final class on June 28th of this year.
Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, at Parkway Baptist Church in Clinton, MS at 3:00 p.m. with Bro. Ken Anderson and her son Ricky Persons officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at Parkway. Burial will follow at Clinton Cemetery. Lakewood Funeral Home and Memorial Park were entrusted with the care of local arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made in honor of Joyce through the funeral home to the children’s ministry of Parkway Baptist Church.
