Annie Joyce Nelms Black

A service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Annie Joyce Nelms Black will be 3 pm Wednesday, March 26, 2014 in the chapel of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home with Rev. Josh Currie officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 8 pm on Tuesday, March 25th at Blanchard St. Denis.   Annie Joyce Nelms Black, age 83, followed her husband through the pearly gates on March 20, 2014. Joyce was born in a log cabin in Many, LA on January 11, 1931. She had a forgiving and gentle spirit. She loved the Lord and knew that prayer could see you through all things. She was a true servant of Christ.   She never met a stranger, kept a smile on her face, and laughter in her heart. In her younger years, she was on a bowling league and later became a telephone operator, where she retired from Bell South. This was truly a perfect occupation for her as she loved to talk.   Her husband of 53 years, William Michael Black of Natchitoches, preceded her in death; as well as her mother, Edna Farrar Nelms Cedar and father, Clayburn Lee Nelms both of Many, LA.   She is survived by one brother, C.L. Nelms; five children, Stanley Craig Sandefur, Michael McKinsey Sandefur and his wife Carol Ann Lambrecht Sandefur, Vickie Lynn Sandefur Thibodeaux Flood, William Clay Black, and Twilla Marie Black Free and her husband Rick Eugene Free. She was blessed with five grandchildren, Melissa Lynn Thibodeaux, January Demee Black Stutes, Sheena Nicole Kelley Yourkonis, and her husband Brian Scott Yourkonis, Tony Duran Kelley, and Kristopher Michael Free; as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.