Melba Joyce Smith

Monday, May 9, 2011, at Paris Skilled Nursing, Melba Joyce Smith was called home to sing in Heaven's choir. Funeral services are scheduled for 11am Thursday at Lone Star Methodist Church. Don Shovan, Dink Benton and Randall Childres will officiate. Interment will be at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wood Funeral Homes. Pallbearers are Donoven Baker, Brock Baker, Stephen Childres, Jason Childres, Larry Hogan and Ricky Cooper. Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth Palmer, Gaylen Legate, Richard Garrison, Charley Lewis, Bobby Kennedy, David Anderson, Aubrey Mayes, Berney Huddleston and John Brooks.The family will receive friends 6-7 Wednesday at Wood Funeral Home in Bogata. Other times the family will be at the family home in Bogata. Born on the old homeplace near Cunningham where family still resides, Melba Joyce Cooper was born to Cletus E. and Clara Medsker Cooper on August 1, 1929. Joyce married Weldon D. Smith on December 21, 1946 in Paris, Texas. She graduated from Cunningham High School in 1947 and lived on the family farm until moving to Bogata in 1969. An accomplished musician, Joyce played piano for various quartets in the 1940's and 1950's including the Ideal Quartet; taught music at East Lamar High School and gave private music lessons. She was church pianist and organist and member of the Lone Star Methodist Church. She was a member of the Bogata Book Club. For 18 years, she worked for Garrison Real Estate. She was an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary for 18 years, serving at the McCuistion and Paris Regional Hospitals. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Mona Shr'ee Childres and her brother, William Cooper. Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Weldon; a daughter, Jenita Baker and husband, Charles of Cunningham; grandchildren, Donoven Baker of Cunningham, Jenissa Hogan and husband, Larry of Henrietta, Texas, Stephen Childres and wife, Trina of Mt. Olive, Mississippi, Jason Chlidres and wife, Mary Ann of Magee, Mississippi; plus 11 great-grandchildren, son-in-law, Randall Childres and wife, Helen of Cunningham; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.