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ERATH — Joyce Elaine Joseph (Pillette / Dozier) was born September 12, 1934 in Erath, Louisiana to Mr. Arthur Pillette Sr. and Mrs. Effie Pillette (Dozier). After fiercely fighting esophageal cancer, she peacefully departed from this life in her sleep on April 24, 2020. She lived to see the golden age of 85 years old.
Joyce was the Matriarch of both the Dozier and Pillette Family and was affectionately known as the Great Pu- Connie. She was a cherished mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend. She was a wise counselor to the entire family and was known for her strength, sense of humor, and fiery personality. She spoke from the heart and never hesitated to “tell it like it is.” She passed many of these traits on to her eleven children and taught them the importance of independence, public service, and higher education which was instilled in her through the legacy of Robert and Frances Dozier.
Joyce was the great granddaughter of Robert and Frances Dozier who founded the first school for African Americans in the 1900s in Erath, Louisiana. She attended school in the Historical Beard Congregational Church founded by Robert and Frances Dozier. During the journey to preserve the legacy of the Dozier family, Joyce provided an oral history about her memories of what it was like to attend classes in the church. She said, “going to school and getting an education was never optional it was serious business.” Joyce was immensely proud to be a part of the legacy created by her great grandparents Robert and Frances Dozier.
Joyce was the ultimate caregiver. As the eldest child in her family, she often helped to care for her younger siblings. In her younger years, she worked at Lahasky Nursing Home in Erath, Louisiana. For the remainder of her life, she worked as a dedicated private duty nurse who took care of countless children and elderly patients in their home. Caring for others was her passion, she wanted all of her girls to become nurses . She has two daughters and two granddaughters that are nurses; 3 Registered Nurses and 1 LPN.
Joyce was a woman of strong Catholic Faith. Not only did she work for the Priest at Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, but she served as a member of the Gospel Choir at St. Theresa Catholic Church and was a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath, Louisiana. Joyce regularly attended Sunday Mass throughout her life and made sure to pray the rosary in the evenings before bed. When she became ill, she received the anointing of the sick and holy sacrament at home.
Joyce was the center of her family. She opened her home to everyone for family celebrations like Christmas and the 4th of July to enjoy home cooked meals, good conversation and dancing. She had an open-door policy where all were welcome to eat, laugh, and make treasured family memories. There will never be another like Joyce.
She is survived by her eight loving children: Carolyn Henderson (Raymond) Abbeville, LA., Angela Matthew of Long Beach CA., Mary Morrison (Purvis) of Scott, LA., Preston Joseph Jr. of Abbeville, LA., Terry Joseph of Abbeville, LA., Whitney Joseph (Rhonda) of Chiefland, FL. Kevin Joseph (Mona) of Cecilia, LA.; Cindy Joseph Meyers Esq. (Richard) of Lake Havasu City, AZ who took care of her in the final months; three beloved sisters, Audrey Broussard of Erath, LA., Elizabeth Campbell of Abbeville, LA. and Brenda Shelvin (Barry) of Abbeville, LA; She is also survived by grandchildren; Dexter Henderson, Ronald Matthews Jr., Natasha Williams, Kendra Matthews, Shanea Morrison Nelson, Katara Matthews Henry, Shelly Morrison, Kendrick Matthews, Shawn Morrison, Keith Joseph, Kayhale Joseph, Kali Joseph, Krystal Joseph, Jacoby Matthews, Simone Joseph, Sheena Joseph, Karius Joseph, Sky Joseph, Lacy Elaine Meyers, Chloe Joseph, Lexy Meyers and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mrs. Joseph was preceded in death by her father, Mr. Arthur Pillette Sr. and mother, Mrs. Effie Pillette (Dozier); her first husband, Mr. Steve Matthews Sr. and second husband, Mr. Preston Joseph Sr.; her sons, Steve Matthews Jr., Ronald Matthews and Glenn Matthews; Granddaughter, Olivia Joyce Henderson; sisters, Violia Pillette, Ophelia Pillette, and Emma Pillette; brothers, Arthur Pillette Jr., Leonard Pillette; and her uncle, Henry Perro.
Sign the guestbook online at www.syrie.com
Mohave Memorial Funeral of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and Syrie Funeral Home in Lafayette, Louisiana were entrusted with the transport and burial arrangements of Mrs. Joyce.

The Covid-19 pandemic has become a family affair for Governor John Bel Edwards. His brother, Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards filed a class-action lawsuit Friday, he says, on behalf of the 3,000 sheriffs in the U.S. who've spent unexpected funds reconfiguring jails to social distance inmates just when fees and tax revenues all but stopped.

Sheriff Edwards is seeking $700,000 in damages and apparently did not consult with his brother, Governor Edwards, before taking on the whole country of China. The sheriff's class-action suit is the first such suit in Louisiana but joins similar lawsuits filed in Texas, Missouri, Nevada and California against the Chinese government. But Governor Edwards says his brother did not speak to him prior to filing the lawsuit that would reflect on Louisiana and has not spoken to the sheriff since.

"I have not," the governor said in his Friday press conference. "I have not."

This reporter asked him, "He didn't call to say he was going to do this?"

Governor Edwards laughed and said, "No. You know, my brother doesn't ask my permission of anything. No, he really didn't [call]. I don't know anything about it."

"Really?

"That's correct," answered the governor without further elaboration.

The governor did, however, confirm he had spoken with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry about a possible lawsuit on behalf of the state. He said the two had had one brief conversation and that A.G. Landry was researching the state's options.

Meanwhile, the governor admitted other legal issues were more pressing especially concerning possible privacy issues associated with the startup of a new state-administered program called Contact Tracing. Contact tracing is a method to be used by Louisiana's Coronavirus wing of the Louisiana Department of Health to use cell phones to track citizen movements. A contact tracer will monitor a computer program that signals when a person gets close to another person who has tested positive. The tracer will call that person to determine who else they may have been around.

But many cell phone users today, if not most, do not answer calls they don't recognize.

Dr. Alex Billioux, MD, Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, admits that could be a problem.

"Right now, there is no notation on your phone that will say that a contact tracer is calling you," Dr. Billioux explained. "We're also looking at other technologies to potentially layer on top of this such as reaching out through text messages and potentially reaching out through apps. But all of this is going to have to be informed by the data and then adapting as we see challenges."

Governor Edwards says he understands the "liberty issues" of tracking individuals because of medical issues but he is appealing to everyone to join the effort to eradicate the virus by every means possible.

"Sometimes we get wrapped around the axel on what we have a right to do," explained Edwards. "I'm going to ask people to consider what is the right thing to do and the right thing to do is to be a good neighbor. I suspect the overwhelming majority of Louisianans are going to do just that. They're going to be appreciative of being warned they may have been around someone who's tested positive."

The governor says the contact tracer, trained in courtesy and protocol, will diplomatically suggest that whether or not the person exhibits symptoms, he or she should consider staying at home for two weeks, the accepted incubation period for COVID-19.

"We've been playing catch-up the whole time," Edwards said, "so if we want to get our economy to open sooner, this really is part of the new normal. This isn't some invention by Dr. Billioux and me. This is part of the national strategy. This is how South Korea got the virus under control quickly."

Private services will be held for Janelle Plowden Morris, 57, with interment to follow in Hills-Rudd Cemetery. Pastor Wayne Landry will officiate the service.
Janelle was born on Sunday, June 17, 1962 to the union of the late Wilmer and Nora Levine Plowden, Sr. in Lafayette, LA.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Joseph Hebert, III, four siblings, Dalton Plowden, Sr., Otis Plowden, Leonard Plowden and Laura Ann Plowden; grandparents, George and Clotile Levine; nephew, Dalton Plowden, Jr; and great-nephew. Jacolby Walker. Janelle unexpectedly but peacefully passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020 in Abbeville, LA.
Janelle leaves to cherish precious memories with her four children, Felicia Hebert, Monica Morris, Tiffany Morris and Minus Morris, all of Abbeville, LA; three grandchildren, Jaquala Hebert and Joseph Hebert, IV, both of Abbeville, LA and Jasmine Morris of Duson, LA; a sister, Nora (Frank) Martin of Abbeville, LA; her siblings, Milton (Gwendolyn) Plowden and Wilmer (Karan) Plowden, Jr., both of Maurice, LA, Curtis (Theresa) Plowden of New Iberia, LA, Ray (Doris) Plowden of Melville, LA, Marvin (Phyllis) Plowden of Erath, LA, Alton Plowden of Abbeville, LA and Morris (Sun) Plowden of Kileen, TX; her a host of aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
View the obituary and sign the guest book online at www.carneyfuneralhome.net
Professional services entrusted Carney Funeral Home, 602 North Pierce Street, Lafayette, LA, (337) 235-9789, is in charge of arrangements.

What are your plans after high school?

My plans after high school is to go to college and hopefully playing a sport there.

Who is/was your favorite teacher?

Mrs. Heather Doucet

Who has had the greatest influence on you, why?

My dad. He gave me a lot of helpful advice throughout life.

What is your favorite movie?

Lion King

If you had a chance to have dinner with one person from history, who would it be?

Albert Einstein

If you could go back, what advice would you give “freshman” you?

To not get side tracked and focus on school and sports.

What was your most memorable moment from your senior year?

My soccer senior night

Who would you count on to uplift your spirits when you’re feeling down?

My friends and
family

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

With a nice house and with a job I enjoy doing.