April 22, 1943 – April 11, 2012

NATCHEZ — Services for Joyce Marie Wesley, 68, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Natchez, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev. Birdon Mitchell Jr. officiating.

Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.

Ms. Wesley was born April 22, 1943, in Natchez, the daughter of Rosalee Dixon and Thomas Blanton.

After attending and graduating from St. Francis (Holy Family) Elementary and High Schools, Joyce furthered her education at Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, and West Virginia State College, where she graduated.

Joyce began her career with South Central Bell (BellSouth) in 1971. She was a bright, intelligent and diligent as she was tough and determined and instilled this same work ethic in her children. When she retired in 1996, Joyce held the position of training supervisor for the Southeast Region and often traveled throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee conducting training seminars.

She was a member of Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as a Stewardess, Lay Missionary and a member of the Board of Trustees.

Joyce enjoyed fishing, shopping, decorating and crafts.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Paul Jones Dixon and Roosevelt Curtis Dixon; and one brother, William Dixon.

Survivors include one son, Louis C. Wesley III and wife, Rachael, of Slidell, La.; one daughter, Kimberly Y. Freeman and husband, D’Regis, of Smyrna, Tenn.; one sister, Paulette Marshall and husband, Addis, of Natchez; three stepsisters, Antoinette Stokes and husband, Roosevelt, of Gonzales, La., Robin Lindsey and husband, Robert, of Gonzales and Mary Ellen Ussin and husband, the Rev. Gregg Ussin, of Katy, Texas; three stepbrothers, Cleve Barnes of San Francisco, Mickey Barnes and Bobby Blanton, both of New Orleans; two grandsons, Quinten M. Wesley of Slidell and D’Regis Freeman Jr. of Smyrna; one nephew, Paul Rhodes of Afghanistan; three nieces, Pamela King of Smyrna, Connie Owens and husband, Charles, of Garland, Texas and LaTonya Dixon of Vidalia; eight grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Teresa Bolden and husband, Ravone, of Grand Forks, N.D., Ricky King and Kiara King, both of Smyrna, Kalan Williams, Edward Owens, Charleen Owens, all of Garland, Joshua Brew and Jordon Brew, both of Vidalia; beloved A.J. “Pete” West; close friends, Theo Johnson, Norma West and Dorthea Mackel; and a number of other relatives and friends.