Joye Carol Wright

Heaven’s doors opened and welcomed home Joye Carol Reed Wright on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. While it’s a loss for her family and friends, Joye is now safe and whole in the loving arms of her Savior. Joye was born on January 9,1936 in Judsonia, Arkansas in the front bedroom of the house that would be her lifetime home. She was greeted with much love by her parents Ralph and Mary (Forbes) Reed. On June 9, 1957 she began her married life with James Edward Wright, creating the beginning of a family full of life and love. She will be greatly missed by her children, Cheri Wright and Suzanne Bennett, both of Judsonia, and Carol Byrd of Bald Knob. Her loving family also includes Carol’s husband Randy Byrd, her grandchildren, Bryce Bennett, Carrie (Byrd) Brown, Lauren (Bennett) Gilstrap, and Brian Byrd and their spouses, Autumn, William, Cody and Alleshia. She cherished her great grandchildren, Bellamy, Jameson, and Sullivan Bennett, Caleb Brown, Logan, Noah, and Maisy Gilstrap, and Graham and Brooks Byrd. She is predeceased by her husband, parents, infant brother David Reed, and her “Auntie” Alice Browning. Joye was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, but also, Joye was a lifelong educator. She spent her 50 year career touching the lives of innumerable students. Her first year of teaching was at Turrell, Arkansas before she came home to marry Jimmy. She then worked at Kensett High School, teaching English, Journalism and serving as librarian and sponsor of the school newspaper. She then continued her career at Bald Knob Public Schools as the junior high English teacher before transitioning to librarian until her retirement in 2012. While Joye was an exacting teacher with high expectations of her students, her greatest impact was not just an imparting of knowledge, but in the way that she affected her students’ lives. She taught more than just English. She made her students believe that they were smart and capable, and that they could achieve great things if they tried. She exemplified the idea that students learn when they know the teacher cares about them, even when the caring was hidden behind her strict demeanor. She was amused and slightly proud when she found out that some students referred to her as “the Old Battle Axe.” From the “Lillipution Wedding” in Kensett to the many BKJS Student Council programs, she enjoyed putting her students on stage, encouraging them to display their talents and abilities. As librarian, she continued using her teaching skills to encourage students to learn more about any topic in which they were interested. If they didn’t have a particular interest, she was happy to help provide one for them. She especially enjoyed sharing her love of Arkansas history and spent many hours developing lessons to encourage that love in her students, even having a sixth grade class create an alphabet book about Bald Knob. Joye’s love for children also included her church family, where she taught alongside her mother in the Beginners Sunday School class for many years, and later was a consistent supporter of the Children’s ministry. Joye was a teacher until the very end, teaching many lessons to her incredible care team who helped provide her with the love, respect, grace, and dignity that she deserved, and for which her family will be forever grateful. Donations may be made to First Baptist Church Judsonia Lula Browning Forbes Memorial Library Fund in Joye’s memory. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob. Services will be conducted Friday, August 29, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Judsonia with William Brown and Bro. Carey Trickey officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, Bald Knob - Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net.

Joye Carol Wright

January 9, 1936 - August 26, 2025