Mrs. Betty Joyce Adams

On November 16, 1969, Arthur Adams and Althea Ree Taylor Adams welcomed their second of four daughters, Betty Joyce. As they watched her grow alongside her sisters, they realized that she would be the most outspoken of them all! Her loving nature and kind spirit encapsulated those that she met and if you met her even once, you never forgot her. No matter where she went or who she encountered in life, she was always going to be Betty Joyce in the most endearing way. Betty Joyce was immensely popular at Northwest Rankin High School and graduated with the class of 1989. There did not seem to be a football or basketball game where you did not hear Betty Joyce from the stands roasting the opposing team or calling the refs out for what she thought were bad calls! Betty Joyce loved hard and wide and on February 12, 1993, she decided to share that love with David Jerome Mays as they united in marriage. Her character was one of dedication and hard work which was demonstrated by longevity on her jobs. Throughout high school she worked at Jitney Jungle. Following graduation, she worked at Multicraft Corporation in Pelahatchie for more than 10 years until she began to face health challenges. But no amount of health issues stopped her! She spent countless hours working in ministry, babysitting, and being there for whatever you needed her to do. Betty was a member of Greater New True Light Missionary Baptist Church where she was a joyful and faithful servant. She served on the Kitchen Committee, Pastor’s Aid, as Assistant Secretary, and as Dance Ministry coordinator. She was also a choir member and Sunday School teacher. Because Betty Joyce was the party wherever she showed up, she used those talents to plan the church convention trips and Any Fun Days for the kids. On January 20, 2026, Betty Joyce was called home to rest from her faithfulness here on earth. Her soul joined those who preceded her in death: her daughter, Khadesja Mays; her parents, Arthur and Althea Ree Adams; her maternal grandparents, Alfred and Abbie Ree Taylor; and her paternal grandparents Arthur and Florence Mae Adams. While Betty Joyce has left this life to live again with the Lord, there are those that she has left behind to carry on her legacy of love and dedication. Her husband, David Jerome Mays of Fannin, Mississippi; her children, De’Netra (Christian) Adams, Jeronica (Tray) Jefferson of Fannin, Mississippi, and Keonta(Courtney) Boyd of Pelahatchie, Mississippi; and her five precious grandchildren, Arionna, Caiden, Kristiona, Cobie, and Zoey. She also leaves her godmother, Hattie Blue of Fannin, Mississippi; four sisters, Cassandra Taylor, Wanda Adams, Latasha (Ronnie) Daniels, all of Fannin, Mississippi, and Didra (Carl) Bolton of Byram, Mississippi; and three brothers, Jimmy (Linda) Braggs of Madison, Mississippi, Henry Warren of Jackson, Mississippi, and Jeffrey (Sharee) Anderson of Fannin, Mississippi, god brothers Johnny (Ileaser) Blue of Fannin, Mississippi and Frankie Blue of Jackson, Mississippi. Additionally, she leaves her mother-in-law, Jessie Amos of Morton, Mississippi; sisters-in-law Phyllis Brown and Wanda Harvey of Morton, Mississippi; brothers-in-law David Magee, Cedrick Worthy, and Cynthia Worthy of Canton, Mississippi; Jolly Magee and Shirley Magee of Jackson, Mississippi; and Cleophus Amos and Linda White of Morton, Mississippi. Betty Joyce is also survived by her loving nieces Precious, Ashley, Tashanna, and Althea, and nephews Nicholas and Lee (Fozy) Michael. She also leaves to cherish her memory a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and the entire Taylor, Adams, and Mays families.

Mrs. Betty Joyce Adams

November 16, 1969 - January 20, 2026