Ms. Joyce Ann Whitest Polk of 753 Hatley Road, Cordele, Georgia died Monday, October 2, 2023 in Waukee, Iowa.

The funeral service will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of Cornerstone Ministry Church of God by Faith in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Big Poplar Spring Church Cemetery in Unadilla, Georgia.

Everyone entering the funeral home for visitations or services is required to wear a mask and to practice social distancing.  A mask must be worn throughout the stay.  You must supply your own mask.

Joyce Ann Whitest Polk, 63, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2023 surrounded by family. Joyce was born on September 13, 1960 in Cordele, Georgia.  She was born to Arch and Bernice Wallace Whitest.  She accepted Christ early in life and united with the Holly Grove Baptist Church.

Joyce completed her high school education as a graduate of Crisp County High School in 1978.  In 2010 Joyce graduated from Southwest Georgia Technical College with her Health Science degree. Afterwards, she received her certification as a respiratory therapist.  She has worked tirelessly as a respiratory therapist for the last 13 years, talking to her patients about the goodness of God and introducing many of them to Christ. She was known for praying with her patients in their most difficult times.

Joyce served faithfully on the Missionary and Usher Board of her local church, Cornerstone Ministry Church of God by Faith Elder James Patterson served as her Pastor.

She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and her siblings, Willie Ruth Whitest, Archie Lee Whitest, Charlie Joe Whitest, Wendell Lee Whitest and Eugene Whitest and one grandchild, Isaiah Malik Gillespie.

Joyce leaves behind many memories that will be cherished by her loving family, her fiancée Walter Quarterman of Fitzgerald, Georgia; her loving and devoted children Katrena (Beauford) Jefferies of Clarksville, Tennessee and Kawanda (Morris) Jones of Waukee, Iowa; her grandchildren, Jarius Jones of Ames, Iowa, Janiah Jones of  Iowa City, Iowa, Kiyah Jefferies and Brayah Jefferies of Clarksville Tennessee; one great grandchild, Rhys Jones of Ames, Iowa; one sister, Sarah (Earnest) Williamson of Cordele, Georgia; one brother, Dr. Mathew Wayne Whitest of Cordele, Georgia; four sisters-in-law, Dorothy Owens, Claretha Whitest and Carolyn Thomas all of Cordele, Georgia, and Joyce Brown of Warner Robins, Georgia; her aunts and uncle, Aaron (Mary) Wallace of Cordele, Georgia, Annie Eva Wallace and   Caldon Wallace of Vienna, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, to include Vivian (Wallace) Stewart of Memphis, Tennessee,  Tony (Caronica) Clayton of Vienna,  Georgia, Lena Touray of Lithonia, Georgia, Bernice Whitest of Cordele, Georgia, Rico Whitest of Atlanta, Georgia, Theron (Kenneth) Jackson of Byron, Georgia, Archie Whitest, Jr. of Southbend, Indiana, Untrebian Williamson, and Kenya (George) Whitehead all of Cordele, Georgia, Tomeka Whitest of Warner Robins, Georgia, Deja Whitehead and Treasure Whitehead of Cordele, Georgia; her Church of God by Faith family, her pastor, Elder James Patterson and First Lady Debra Patterson and     special friends, Dorothy Taylor, Jackie Brown, Jackie Sutton and Louise Quarterman.