Betty Joyce Porter Wooten

Betty Joyce Porter Wooten of Avinger, Texas was called home by our Lord and Savior on January 21, 2023. Joyce was born on September 6, 1936 in Center, Texas to Emmett and Sudie Walker Porter. She graduated from Haughton High School, Class of 1954. She resided in North Louisiana and East Texas most of her life with a brief residence in Cairo, Egypt.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Frances Diann Wooten; her four siblings, Kenneth “Bub” Porter of Benton, Louisiana, Aubrey Eule Porter of Benton, Louisiana, Laverne Seldon Owens of Brookhaven Mississippi, and Harold Porter of Shreveport, Louisiana.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Wooten of Avinger, Texas; her son and daughter-in-law, James and Patricia Wooten of Avinger, Texas; granddaughters, Emilee Frances Redmon and her husband, Aaron of Lindale, Texas, Hailee Diane Hernandez and her husband, Henry of Lindale Texas; her grandson, James Christopher Wooten and his wife, Carmen of Mesquite, Texas; and her most cherished possessions, her beloved great-grandchildren, Oliver James and Lily Ann Redmon of Lindale, Texas.

She leaves behind numerous nephews and nieces and the beautiful relationship she had with each.

Joyce embodied the greatest attributes of a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and trusted friend. Her character was unmatched in the eyes of her family. She was an easy person to talk to about the most difficult of life’s problems, but her opinion had to be requested – and these conversations were held mostly at her table over coffee and cookies. She conducted herself with a humble style of grace, dignity and kindness that is rarely seen, and these traits were and will always be remembered and admired by her family. Her ability to love unconditionally created close-knit relationships for those joining the family through marriage. An avid lover of the holidays, she loved her family gathering together and cooking everyone’s favorite meals and their laughter. In all things, she remained humble and loyal to her friends and family. She is loved in death as she was in life, fully and never with regret, by a family who will miss her deeply throughout their remaining lives. The family’s greatest console is knowing she held a deep religious conviction and led her life of service and faith by example and not by words alone. She was a shining model of the biblical virtues of a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and most of all - our best friend. We are confident through the promise of our faith in our Lord and Savior that we will see her again and all of those we loved that have gone before us.

Joyce will be laid to rest in a private service at the family cemetery located on the land where she watched her grandchildren grow up. Her epitaph will read as she requested, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana.
 
The family would like to express our deep appreciation for the professionalism and compassion displayed by the caregivers of Willis-Knighton Bossier Emergency and SICU units and the Bossier Parish Fire and Police Departments. Their attitude, effort and management of her care are much appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Samaritan’s Purse and Gideon organizations.