Obituary: Joyce Wilbanks
Joyce Wilbanks of Essary Springs, passed away on October 10, 2026, in Ashland, Mississippi, surrounded by loving family. She was born on June 6, 1939, in Pocahontas, Tennessee, and lived her life in Hardeman County, where she was known for her steady love of family, faith, and the simple joys that made a house feel like home.
A devoted homemaker, Joyce built a life centered on caring for those she loved. On April 30, 1976, she married John H. Wilbanks, and together they shared their lives until his death on September 12, 2021. Their years together were marked by companionship, devotion, and the everyday blessings of family life.
Joyce found happiness in the things she made with her hands and nurtured with her heart. She loved sewing and quilting, crafting blankets for all of her grandchildren. She was known to have a green thumb with flowers, bringing beauty and color wherever she planted and tended. She loved to fish, enjoyed playing games with her family, and looked forward to going out for catfish every weekend. These simple traditions became cherished memories for those around her.
Her faith was the foundation of her life. Joyce was a lifelong member of Essary Springs Baptist Church, where she was very active and faithful in her worship. She loved her God and read her Bible every day, living out her beliefs with quiet constancy and devotion.
She is survived by her daughter, Carla Morrow of Walnut, Mississippi, and by her son-in-law, Michael, with whom Carla shared her life and home. Joyce’s love for her family was enduring and generous, and that love remains a lasting gift. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren and 2 great greatgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Wilbanks; her father, Henry Garrett; her mother, Mary Alice Cummings Garrett; her daughter, Debra Jeanine Abbott; her son, Rockey Lynn Shook; her grandchildren, Billy Wayne Hawkins and Kaden Sanders and five brothers and five sisters. Their memories remained close to her heart throughout her life.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Middleton, 201 S Main St, Middleton, Tennessee 38052. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Middleton. Interment will take place at Essary Springs Cemetery, 1210 Oak Grove Church Road, Pocahontas, Tennessee 38061.
Joyce will be remembered for her faithful spirit, her loving hands, and the warmth she brought to family gatherings, church life, and everyday moments. Her life was a blessing, and her memory will be treasured by all who knew and loved her.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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