Joy Bell Norris Mercer
Joy Bell Norris Mercer, age 86, of the Colgrade Community in Winn Parish, entered eternity on February 22, 2024 following a brief illness.
Born February 14, 1938 in Sikes, Louisiana to George and Myrtle Norris, Joy Bell will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends.
Joy Bell married the love of her life, Pen, on August 28, 1953 and was married for 53 years before his passing.
Those who treasured her most affectionately referred to her as “Joe Bell”, Momma, and Mamaw. The insurmountable love for her family was evidenced at the weekly Sunday dinners in her home. The routine gatherings were the highlight of her week and anyone was welcome to enjoy her meals. If you had the opportunity to sit at her table, you were blessed. In addition to her love of cooking, she enjoyed reading historical books on Winn Parish and cookbooks. Her favorite pasttime was talking on the phone with her beloved friends, Betty, Eunice, Patsy Ann, and Beverly and her special calls from Halie.
Joy Bell retired from the Winn Parish School System in 2001 after committing 33 years of serving students and staff at Winnfield Primary School. She also worked part time for many years at Vintage Petroleum.
She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Myrtle Norris; her husband Floyd “Pen” Mercer; daughter Penny Sue Mercer; siblings, William “Dobbie” Norris, Gladys Brundrige, Louise Poole, Ann Blanchard, and Cletus Norris; grandchildren Matthew Mercer and Amanda Mercer; and great, great granddaughter Rylee Paige Credeur.
Those left to cherish her memory and continue her legacy include her children: Jimmy (Sissy) Mercer, Jesse Mercer, Jerry (Terri) Mercer; siblings Inez Taylor and Cathy (John) Lindsey; her grandchildren: Candy (Ricky) Mercer Polk, Andy (Kylie) Mercer, Chris (Tapia) Mercer, Brandi Toms, Lori Mercer, Phillip (Tara) Mercer, Allen Wayne Mercer, Brandon Armstrong, and Cierra Armstrong; great grandchildren: Paige (Greg) Credeur, Lauren Polk, K.J. (Cherie’) Polk, Jennifer (Garret) Dunlap, Morgan and Luke Mercer, Cade Mercer, Payton, Makayla, and Myleigh Mercer, Lauren Broadway, Alexis and Kaylee Vercher, Jacob “Ty” and Kale Toms; great, great grandchildren Mariah, Kenna, Scarlett, and Hartley Polk, Emma, Brooke, and Wyatt Dunlap, and her “Bay Bay”, Kennedy Reese Credeur; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Services for Mrs. Mercer were held Sunday, February 25, 2024 at Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield, Louisiana with Rev. Author Robinson and Rev. Jason Mercer officiating. Interment followed at Jones Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers: Andy Mercer, Chris Mercer, Phillip Mercer, Payton Mercer, Luke Mercer, and Ricky Polk.
Honorary pallbearers: Cade Mercer, Greg Credeur, David Arton, Drew Benitez, John Lindsey, Brandon Armstrong, Bobby Norris, and Vance Luther.