Joyce NanEtte Ames Harper, 87, of Lumberton, Texas passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont, Texas with her family by her side.

Joyce was born on February 19, 1936, in Stuart, Florida to Margaret Bowman Ames and Walter V. Ames. She was a housewife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved her family dearly. Joyce was a member of the Midway Baptist Church in Lumberton. She enjoyed doing cross-stitch, quilting, and was known for her biscuit making. Usually family, friends and church members would say, “Let Joyce make the biscuits” at various functions and events. She was a wonderful friend, family member and Christian who will be missed dearly.

Survivors include her children, Felicia Bent and her husband Kenneth of Lumberton and Rickey Harper of Lumberton; grandchildren, Jason Sosa and his wife Rosa, Christopher Sosa and his wife Felicia, Kristina Froman and her husband Jacob, Christian Harper and Elizabeth Harper; great grandchildren, Peyton Sosa and Arabella Sosa; her sister, Dee Ames of South Carolina.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Margaret Ames and her husband of fifty-one years, Harley Harper, who passed away in 2005.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Hayes Grace Memorial Park in Hitchcock, Texas under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home in Nederland, Texas.