Lola Joyce Smith

  Natchitoches, LA - Graveside services honoring the life of Joyce Smith, 99, will be at 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Toro Cemetery in Florien, LA with Reverend Johnny Dunn officiating. The family will receive friends at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Tuesday May 24, 2016 at 4PM- 6PM. Lola Joyce Arthur, born January 26, 1917 in Florien, Louisiana. Her parents were Benjamin Clinton Arthur and Elizabeth Tynes Arthur. Proceeding her in death along with her parents are her husband, Clifford Smith; her siblings Benjamin Harvey Arthur, Henry Howard Arthur, Myrtie Arthur Dillard, Gertie Arthur Patrick, Lena Arthur Cook, Ethel Arthur Jordan, and Robert Floyd Arthur. After graduation from Florien High School she attended nursing school until interrupted by World War 2 when she left to work in the defense industry in the production of military equipment. She served as a welder in tank production and various other positions needed in the war effort. After the war she worked in nursing for several years in Natchitoches as well as jobs at Northwestern State College. She was a long time member of Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches and was a member of the Joyful Sounds Westside Church traveling choir for many years. She met and married her late husband Clifford Smith, a World War Two veteran in 1966. He preceded her in death in February, 1993. They were members of Emmanuel Baptist Church and later Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches. She sang with the Westside Church Gospel Singing group, The Joyful Sounds for many years. She was a member of Toro Baptist Church and Union Baptist Church when young. Upon graduation from Florien High School she went to Charity Hospital School of Nursing. At the outbreak of World War Two she went to Alabama and worked in defense plants so the men could go to war. She worked at Republic Steel Plant as an electric and acetylene welder, inspector for 105 millimeter artillery shell production, as a machinist reading blueprints and making parts for machinery and as a drill press operator. After returning to Natchitoches she worked as a nurse in a medical clinic and in a nursing home and later as a worker at Northwestern State College. She is survived by nieces and nephews.