Joyce Wilkes

8/22/2016

Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and faithful servant of the Lord, Joyce Brannon Wilkes passed away at 1:51 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2016. She was a native of Walker and a resident of Baton Rouge. Joyce graduated as valedictorian from Walker High School and Summa Cum Laude from Southeastern Lousiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. During her time at Southeastern, she was an editor of the Lion's Roar and was a recipient of the Green S Award. She and her husband, James "Mon" Wilkes, served in the Methodist ministry throughout the Southeastern Louisiana Conference for 44 years; the last 26 of those years at the United Methodist Camp Istrouma in Greenwell Springs. In her final years, she was an active member of Walker United Methodist Church and administrator of Palmetto Cemetary. She first felt the call of our Lord at age 11 and spent the rest of her life fulfilling her calling as a child of God, a disciple of Christ and a lay-minister of the gospel. Her beautiful smile, grace and compassion touched many lives and will be remembered and missed by all. She is survived by two daughters and one son Margaret Corbitt, Alice Bass and Russell Wilkes; special niece Cynthia Posey, and special daughter in law, Lela Mae Wilkes; eight grandchildren, Brent Corbitt, Meghan Corbitt, Lea Wilkes, Gwen Maddox, Hollie Bass, Robert Bass, Vincent Bass and Kelly Bass; three great-grandchildren Kara, Jordyn and Gracelyn Corbitt and brother, John Milton. She is preceded in death by her parents Oliver Price Brannon, Jr. and Mary Sides Milton; step-father, Tulie Brady Milton; one sister and 3 brothers, Ouida Lee Posey, Lester Brannon, Oliver Price Brannon III and Don Brannon; special niece Cecelia Posey Short, and her husband of 60 years James "Mon" Wilkes.