Joy was born on Christmas day in 1940 to parents James Savoie Curtis and Clara Ford Curtis. Her beloved home was in Toro, LA. She attended Pisgah Baptist Church, and it was there, at the age of 12, that she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized in Toro Creek. She attended Pisgah High School and was valedictorian, class president, and loved playing basketball! She graduated in 1958, and married Lee Atlas Brown on April 18, 1959. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona where Lee served in the U.S. Army, and she was a homemaker. Upon returning, they lived in New Orleans and eventually made their way back to settle in Hornbeck. Joy began working as a postal clerk from which she retired after 34 years. In 1964, a daughter, Angela Brown Hoffman, was born to whom she was a dedicated Mama!

Joy was an active member of First Baptist Church, Hornbeck and dearly loved her Sunday School teacher and class. She was also a member of the Hornbeck Senior Center and was always up for a game of Mexican train! Joy and Lee together were members of The Campers on Mission. They worked on mission projects in Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and all over Louisiana. When God called her to this work, she was dedicated and enjoyed serving others. In addition, she and Lee were a part of the Gideons International where Joy participated in the ladies auxiliary.

In 1997, Joy became a grandmother to Madison Paige Hoffman. Being a Mawmaw was a title that she proudly embraced. She loved to sit in the sandbed, splash water at the swimming hole, ride four wheelers, play school and eat at the Chinese buffet all with a giggling girl by her side. She instilled in both her daughter and granddaughter to love all people especially those that were unnoticed by others.

Two of her spiritual gifts were praying and being a good listener. She provided a listening ear and could be counted on to keep things in confidence. In addition, she would often cook and share “cool whip” bowls of soup with her friends and neighbors.

In her life she loved the Lord, her family, plants of ALL kinds, vegetable gardening, freezing and canning, traveling to all 50 states, crocheting, baskets, the ocean, shells, and Christmas time! This dear sweet lady will be deeply missed but never forgotten in the hearts of her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Atlas Brown; parents, James Savoie and Clara Ford Curtis; brother-in-law, David Weaver; sister-in-law, Patsy Cavanaugh; niece, Jacqueline Cavanaugh Mosley; and lifelong friend, Billie Wells Wilson.

She is survived by her daughter Angela Brown Hoffman (Jeff) of Arcadia, LA; granddaughter, Madison Paige Hoffman Thrower (Chase) of Shreveport, LA; brothers, Jerry Curtis (Carolyn) of Toro, LA, James Curtis, (Tynee) of Zwolle, LA; sisters, Mary Curtis Weaver of Hornbeck, and Darlene Curtis Eaves (Randy) of Merryville, LA; brother-in-law, Jack Cavanaugh; nephews, Rondle Cavanaugh, Carl Mosley, Mark Jarrell, Hunter Curtis, Jeffrey Matthews, Dewayne Reeks, and Jason Reeks; nieces, Carma Jarrell, Brooke Curtis, Jessica Blalock, Tadez Phillips, and Emily Darragh.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6