Joyce Johnson

Joyce (Latch) Johnson, 89, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life to her heavenly home on June 19, 2020, as a result of a short illness.  She was born on March 27, 1931. At the time of her passing, she was in The Plaza Assisted Living facility in Arkadelphia where she had resided for two years.  Joyce was a life-long resident of Arkadelphia.  She retired from the Levi Strauss Company in Arkadelphia in 1984.  She loved to cook, sew, quilt, crochet and put together jigsaw puzzles.  She grew large vegetable gardens and shared fruits and vegetables with family and friends.  The joy of her life was time spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was a faithful member of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.  Joyce was loved and adored by all who knew her.  Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the life of a worthy woman.  Joyce lived her life as a Proverbs 31 woman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) Johnson, and her parents, Amos and Theodosia (Helms) Latch; brothers-in-law, Junior Wofford, Orlin Johnson, Melvin Johnson, Elvin Johnson and J.D. Johnson; sisters-in-law, Melva Sue Hester, Betty Johnson, and Bernice Johnson.  She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Hankins, and son-in-law, Dr. James W. Hankins of Arkadelphia; twin sister, Joann Wofford of Arkadelphia; grandchildren, Christopher William (Jennie)Hankins of Maumelle, Jodi Ann (Schuyler) Van Dorn of Arkadelphia; four great grandchildren, Caiden Hankins, Logan Hankins, Jackson Van Doren, and Madelyn Van Doren; and sisters-in-law, Velma Bussey of Waldo, AR, and Ann Johnson of Benton, AR.

Visitation with family will be June 23, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel with service beginning at 2:00 p.m.   Brother Charlie Williams and Brother Frank Henson will officiate.  Interment will follow at Richland Cemetery with W. L. Fendley, David Golden, Kevin Yearby, Jimmy Brown, Jeff Murphy, David Johnson, Arlon Seale, Thomas “Cotton” Womack, serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joyce’s name to Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, c/o Arlon Seale, 520 Burrow Rd., Arkadelphia, AR 71923, or to the Pregnancy Resource Center for Southwest Arkansas, P.O. Box 783, Arkadelphia, AR  71923.