Funeral services for Joyce Beard Jones, 73, of Natchez, who died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be 2 p.m. today at Jayess Baptist Church in Jayess with the Rev. Bart Walker officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church.

Mrs. Jones was born March 1, 1934, in Jayess, the daughter of Ethew Ivan and Hazel Alexander Beard. She was a member of Parkway Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernest Eugene Jones; sister, Josie Nell Lambert; and three brothers, Charles, Harold and Bobby Beard.

Survivors include three daughters, Jean Smith and husband, Mike, of Zachary, La., Marie Watts and husband, Keith, of Missouri City, Texas and Wanda Layton and husband, Steve, of Arlington, Texas; son, Donald Jones and wife, Karen, of Olive Branch; 11 grandchildren, Lauren Smith, Jay Smith and wife, Emily, Leslie Smith, Corey Watts, Ashley Watts, Taylor Watts, Chad Jones, Brandon Jones, Lindsey Layton, Matthew Layton and Ryan Layton; brother, J.T. Beard and wife, Betty, of Burkeville, Texas; brother-in-law, Joe Lambert of Jayess; two sisters-in-law, Juanita Beard of Ruth and Verline Beard of Queen City, Texas; and many nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Jay Smith, Corey Watts, Chad Jones, Brandon Jones, Matthew Layton, Rickie Rutland, Todd Rutland and Keith Beard.

Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Layton, Michael Freeman, Jeff Jones, Randy Beard and Ricky Beard.