Joyce Marie Gallien

Some people leave footprints on our hearts, and then there are those whose love becomes the foundation upon which generations stand. Joyce Marie Gallien was one of those extraordinary women. On Friday, July 17, 2026, Joyce peacefully entered eternal rest at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. While our hearts grieve her absence, we rejoice in the promise of eternal life through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We take comfort in knowing that she has been welcomed into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father. Joyce was born on June 10, 1948, in Cloutierville, Louisiana, to the late Sammy Gallien and Justina LaBomme Gallien. She was raised in a large, close-knit family where faith, resilience, hard work, and love for one another formed the foundation of her life. Throughout the years, she experienced both the joy of family and the sorrow of saying goodbye to many loved ones who preceded her in death. She now joins them in eternal peace while leaving behind a family who will forever cherish her memory. She is survived by her beloved sisters, Mary Carter, Kimberly Myles, Jackie Dooley, her devoted brother, Kenneth Brown, and a host of cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives were forever enriched by her love. Joyce dedicated more than twenty years of faithful service to St. Mary’s School. She believed there was dignity in honest work and continued working until her health no longer allowed her to do so. Her dedication, dependability, and caring nature earned the respect of everyone who knew her. A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Joyce was a faithful member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. Her faith was not something she practiced—it was the foundation upon which she built her life. Through every joy and every hardship, she trusted God’s plan, leaned on prayer, and lived with humility, compassion, and unwavering devotion. If there was one thing Joyce loved almost as much as her family, it was feeding them. Her kitchen was the heart of her home. Every meal was prepared with love, and no one ever left her table hungry. For Joyce, cooking wasn’t simply making food—it was one of the many ways she showed her love. She also possessed a remarkable gift for sewing. With patience and care, she lovingly created handmade quilts for her children and grandchildren. Those quilts became treasured keepsakes, stitched together with love, comfort, and memories that will be cherished for generations. Joyce found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. Her mornings often began with a fresh cup of coffee while watching her favorite television show, Gunsmoke. She adored birds and faithfully fed “her birds” every day. To know Joyce was to know someone unforgettable. She had a style all her own and a personality that could never be duplicated. Her unmistakable Southern accent could be heard from across the room, often bringing smiles before she even came into view. She was authentic, spirited, and unapologetically herself. She was wonderfully stubborn—and proud of it. Once Joyce made up her mind, there was very little anyone could do to change it. That determination carried her through every challenge life placed before her and remained with her until her final days. Yet beneath that strength was a heart overflowing with unconditional love. Joyce leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving children, Stephanie Warren (DuJuan), Monakisha Moore (Marquise), Laura LaCour (Derek), and Calvin LaCour. She also forever carried in her heart the memory of her precious infant son, Willfred Frederick, who preceded her in death at just seventeen days old and who, we believe, joyfully welcomed his mother into Heaven. She was the proud and devoted grandmother of Jasmine, Courtney (D’Angelo), Alonzo, Deondrae, Kedric, Khan, and Savannah. Her greatest joy continued to multiply as she became the loving great-grandmother of Kennedi, Jameson, Jaxson, Maliyah, Allysa, and Rhylie. Each child held a special place in her heart, and each one was loved beyond measure. While words can never fully capture a woman as remarkable as Joyce, those who knew her will forever remember the aroma of her home-cooked meals, the birds gathered faithfully outside her window, the familiar sound of Gunsmoke playing during quiet mornings, and the unmistakable Southern voice that could always be recognized before she entered a room. Her legacy lives on in every value she instilled, every tradition she began, every life she touched, and every generation that follows because of the sacrifices she made.