Joycelin Walker Larrieu

Visitation: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Farrar Funeral Home 411 W. Broadway Blvd. Jefferson City, TN 37760 Service: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 2:00 PM Farrar Jefferson City Chapel 411 W. Broadway Blvd. Jefferson City, TN 37760 Joycelin Walker Larrieu of Jefferson City peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Joyce was born on February 10, 1937 in Knoxville, TN and received with joyful pride by her parents, Luther Benjamin and Marsella (June) Moore Walker. Joyce leaves her devoted husband of fifty-five years, Ronald Larrieu, to cherish the memories of their life and love. Joyce also leaves four children, Teronia Larrieu Glenn (Curtis), Donna Larrieu Kachingwe (Grayson), Eva Larrieu Chatman (Mickey), and Ronald Larrieu, Jr. (Angelica); ten grandchildren, Amber, Benjamin, Brittny, Marsella, Briana, Olivia, Lauren, Daniel, Tatiana, and Arron; three great-grandchildren, Jamya, Jesiah, and Cloé. Joyce leaves her brother and sister-in-law, Luther and Linda Walker and her sister and brother-in-law, Betty Ann and Butler Maxwell. Joyce was preceded in death by her brother, McMurry (Buddy) Walker. Joyce began school in Knoxville attending Maynard Elementary and continued at Nelson Merry in Jefferson City. Later joining her parents, who had migrated to Chicago, Joyce attended Wells High School and then went on to complete two years at Fisk University in Nashville. Upon returning to Chicago, Joyce met and married Ronald Larrieu on July 12, 1958. Joyce was a homemaker for fourteen years diligently instilling in her children the value of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Joyce was a Renaissance woman who shared her love of the classics and southern values with her children. While raising a family, Joyce returned to school attaining a degree and master’s degree in education. Walking in her mother’s path and two generations of southern one room school house teachers, Joyce was a dedicated grammar school teacher for Chicago Public Schools for nearly thirty years. She and her husband raised four college graduates and have five grandchildren with college degrees. Her beauty and grace were never diminished by her sass and spunk . . . which contributed to her captivating charm. Outsiders often equated Joyce with that of a beautiful, fairytale princess; however, in storybook fashion her story best mirrors the mettle of the little engine that could—“I think I can . . . I think I can . . . I know I can!” And, she did . . . time and time again. Joyce lived by simple precepts. “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best!” Joyce also lived by and is best known for, “Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you.” Always referenced as her father’s words, “Don’t hold your fist so tight afraid to let something out that you don’t let anything in” and “The only thing wrong with a duck is its bill.” A woman of wit and wisdom, Joyce preached and lived by “do things in moderation,” and not only did she exhort, “do not live above your means,” her frugality was continuously exhibited. She would also say, “I’m a child of the depression . . . ‘waste not . . . want not.’ ” A humanitarian at heart often doing for others, Joyce also believed, “God helps those who help themselves.” Joyce was a Christian who had a profoundly intimate relationship with God. Joyce and Ron returned to her home in 2000. Her grandchildren and her great grandchildren, who fondly called her “GG,” were of direst concern to her. To see them all to fruition was the inertia that fueled her fight. A soldier in God’s army, Joyce’s natural stoicism and indomitable spirit became challenged several years ago. It crushed her soul to know that she was losing her earthly battle unable to witness and impact her great-grandchildren’s lives. In the end, Joyce was comforted by her family in a corner bedroom shaded by old oak trees once planted by her grandpa. A dutiful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, teacher and servant of God, Joyce came to her final crossroad. Joyce’s spirit will continue to crown her loving and completely devoted husband, dedicated children, loyal grandchildren and precious great-grandchildren. Visitation and services will be held at Farrar Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. Graveside service and interment will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens.