Joyce P. Whitaker

Joyce Palmer Whitaker was born on March 9, 1930 in Cumberland, MS to her late parents, George and Margie Palmer. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by eight Palmer siblings (Jr, Rudy, Dub, Travis, Red, Lukey, Maxine and Janie). She is survived by one sibling, Carolyn Palmer Bednar of Drew.

Joyce is also predeceased by her husband of 63 years, William “Bill” Whitaker, as well as her eldest daughter, Lynn Hughes, and only son, William Travis Whitaker. She is survived by three daughters, Lydia Medders (Ed), Sue Green and Michelle Whitaker.

To her grandchildren, Joyce is affectionately known as “Gonkie”. She is survived by 8 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.

Joyce is loved and survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and bonus daughter, Mitzie Berry.

Loved by all who knew her, Joyce was a member of College Drive 7th Day Adventist Church in Pearl since 2013. Prior to that, she was a member of Wells United Methodist Church in Jackson and numerous Baptist churches in communities across the state wherever she resided.

From 2015-2020, she volunteered as a Chaplain at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood and Crossgates Hospital in Brandon. An avid reader, she also volunteered as a reading tutor for the youngest pupils at College Drive Christian School in Pearl as well.

Her career spanned many decades and included a variety of occupations, including raising a family and helping her husband farm. In 1962, she went to work at Baxter Laboratories in Cleveland. When her husband lost his eyesight in 1970, she left the workforce to be his helpmate in managing several restaurants for MS Services for the Blind, including at Delta Medical Center in Greenville, MS Chemical in Yazoo City and the cafeteria at the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson. During her working years, she attended evening courses at Delta State University and Hinds Community College for academic studies.

She also applied for and was accepted into the Nursing School Program at Moorehead Community College in 1984 but opted to continue working alongside her husband in the food business. She and Bill retired in 1997. After Bill died in 2007, she obtained her Insurance License and worked part-time for 8 years helping Senior Citizens with their Medicare insurance needs.

Her many hobbies included singing, playing guitar, gardening, sewing, quilt-making, cooking and fishing with her husband. She generously shared her talents with family and taught most of the grands and great-grands how to make biscuits and banana pudding!

By 2020, she was showing signs of dementia and required more care and supervision. For the last 3 years, she has resided at Willow Creek Retirement Center in Byram where she died peacefully on July 1, 2026, at the age of 96. Staff knew her as a kind and Godly woman. Her favorite comment to caregivers and visitors alike was “You’re so beautiful!” which always brought a big smile to the recipient! She relished the opportunity to share her testimony, give a word of encouragement or pray for others, including fellow residents. Even as her cognitive abilities declined, she remained faithful and joyful to the end.

Joyce Whitaker completed her earthly assignments as wife and partner to Bill, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and servant of the Lord, all to the very best of her ability and to the Glory of God. No doubt she will hear these words spoken: “Well done, good and faithful Servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:23.