Joyce Gillentine, 86
October 20, 1939 – December 23, 2025
Nettleton/Tupelo-On Tuesday morning, Dec. 23, Annie Joyce Fowler Gillentine-Heyman, at age 86, flew away to heaven from the Gregory Green House at United Methodist Senior Services. Joyce had lived about a decade, first in Traceway, then about 6 months in the Green Houses.
Born Northeast of Nettleton at home on October 20, 1939 to the late Russell Fowler and Ella Mae Henson Fowler, Joyce lived most all her life in the Nettleton area where she made a mark for herself being involved in all things Nettleton. Joyce was sorta a “jack of all trades”. She graduated from Nettleton High School in 1957 and received her AA Degree from Itawamba Junior College. Joyce tried her hand at several things in her lifetime but she was most known for owning Jack and Jill Child care as well as later establishing HomePlace in Nettleton, an assisted living home.
Always ‘into something”, Joyce was the clown in many parades over the years to the delight of children. She loved anything glitzy, including her attire and was always adventurous and daring. She was well traveled, well read and could talk to a bodock post. A big letter writer and historian, she enjoyed being with people and was once correspondent for the Nettleton News and Amory Advertiser. Independent to a fault, she was a tiger when she thought she was right and didn’t hesitate to tell you when you were wrong-and why! She loved art, trinkets, craft’s and genuinely lived her life to the fullest!
A memorial service will be announced after the first of the year. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving the family.
Survivors include her son, Robbie Gillentine and wife, Donna of Nettleton and her daughter, Cyndi Gay Caruso and husband, Anthony of Florida; her two grandchildren, Sabrina Guess and husband, Chad and Jessie Gillentine all of Nettleton; 2 great grandchildren, Max Gillentine and Bryson Guess; several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families and her special caregiver and niece, Denise Neal.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Ella Mae Fowler; the children’s father, Bobby Gene Gillentine and her second husband, Barnard “Bernie” Heyman; two brothers, Charles and James Fowler.
Memorials may be made to Nettleton Food Pantry, P. O. Box , Nettleton, Ms. 38858 or to the Sunshine Fund, United Methodist Senior Services, 2800 West Main, Tupelo, MS. 38801,
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
