Joy Adams

Published 2:16 pm Friday, December 27, 2019

Joy Valette (Anstead) Adams, 83, passed away peacefully on Dec. 22, 2019, at Blueberry Hill, a caring and loving community Personal Care Home. From her birth, on June 7, 1936, to her death on Sunday, she touched everyone she knew with kindness and love. She was born in Hammond, to Author Ray “Dutch” and Maxine (Durbin) Anstead. She was the youngest of two children and she adored her older brother Samuel Author “S.A.” who preceded her in death. They are together again celebrating a joyous reunion in heaven.

Valette’s talents were many — she was an artist, dancer, community volunteer, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend who loved to entertain. She was also a wonderful cook, famous for her fantastic chili, which was requested often by her children and their friends.

Valette is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, Jan Adams. She and Jan enjoyed entertaining and spending time with family and friends. Their love of nature and travel inspired annual visits to Gatlinburg, Tenn., to enjoy God’s beauty. Left to honor Valette and remember her love are her daughter, Gina (Giacone) Laird, Bill Laird, and granddaughter Brooke Laird; her son, Joseph Giacone, Rebecca Giacone, and granddaughter, Sarah Giacone; as well as Jan’s children and grandchildren Joe Adams who preceded her in death; Jeff, Thomas, Avery, and Hayden Adams; Jana Norwood and Michael Dunn; and Harlan, Jon, and Aceley Adams.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m. at Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial Methodist Church in Bogalusa, with the Rev. James Moore presiding. The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Blueberry Hill for their attentiveness and loving care of Valette. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Valette’s name to Blueberry Hill, the Alzheimer’s Association, or ESM Methodist Church.

Condolences may be shared on the Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home website at www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.