Mrs. Joyce Womack Whitaker, 89, of Batesville, MS, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital - North Mississippi in Oxford.

Mrs. Joyce was born on October 31, 1928 in Greenwood, MS to The Late Martha Sibley Womack and James Lewis Womack. A retired librarian for South Panola Schools, she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who always devoted herself to her Lord and her family.

Mrs. Whitaker leaves behind her loving family which includes her daughters, Deborah George of Hernando, MS and Julia Lange (David, Jr.) of Batesville, MS; her son, James Whitaker, Jr. of Batesville, MS; her brother, James Womack of Titusville, FL; five grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James S. Whitaker, Sr. and her parents.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at 11am in the First United Methodist Church in Batesville with Rev. Ed Temple and Rev. Ed Woodall officiating. Interment will follow in Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation will be held in the church on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 5pm-7pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 797, Batesville, MS 38606 or to the American Cancer Society, 607 Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Dickins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.