A visitation for Joann will be held Monday, April 22, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71108, followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00 AM. with Dr. B.J. “Rocky” Maddox officiating. Joann will be laid to rest in Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Rd, Keithville, LA 71047.
Joann grew up in Minden La, with four other siblings and many friends. If she wasn’t helping with taking down the neighborhood bully, she would have been pulling Friday Night football game pranks. We can only imagine the mischief they got into. No matter what was happening she was probably in the middle of it, acting all innocent. Having grown up in a big family she knew the value of it.
Joann met the love of her life, Snookie and not long after was married. They were married for 64 wonderful years. Together they raised their three kids, Teri, Debbie and the “Golden Child” Rusty. Of the jobs she held, the most important was being a mom and a mamaw. She loved all her grandkids and great grandkids. Never saying “No” to any of them. That’s funny because I heard “No” a lot as a kid. Right before she retired from South Highlands, she had hundreds of children a day, giving them hugs and opening their ketchup packets during lunch. Even when we were out in public it wouldn’t be long before you heard “Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Nelson!” When we heard that we knew it was another one of her kids. After mom retired and had no schedule, she assumed everyone else had retired as well. She loved to show up during the day at your house telling you to come outside and get my debit card that had fallen between the seat and console. Don’t forget the midnight calls startling you from your sleep, thinking something is wrong. Nope, just needed you to get her TV back on the Hallmark channel. In these past few years, she never stopped going even with medical conditions trying to hold her back. Fiercely, independent, and hardheaded, she was something else but very loving. As a member of Southside Baptist Church for nearly 50 years, as well as a member of Rose Park Baptist Church over the past couple of years, she never missed an opportunity to share the love of Jesus and she was always willing to help others in need. As I’m sure she’s heard the words we all hope to hear, “WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.
Joann was preceded in death by her loving husband Lyle F. Nelson Jr.; father, William Prentis White; mother, Fannie Mae Driver White; brother, Benny Glen White; great-granddaughter, Caroline Rose Nelson.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving children, Teri Godfrey, Debbie Sauce, Russell Nelson and wife Lynda; grandsons, Michael Godfrey and wife Kimberly, Blake Godfrey and wife Sarah, Stephen Sauce and wife Jessica, and Zachary Nelson and wife Kimberly; granddaughters, Megan Godfrey, Kimberly Sauce, and Melyssa Sacchetti and husband Joseph; great grandchildren, Grayson Godfrey, Luke Godfrey, Noah Godfrey, Hudson Godfrey, Bonner Fentress, Brendan Fentress, Dyllon Williams, Avery Sauce, Rowan Sauce, Freya Quinn, Elijah Quinn, Ian Nelson and Liliana Sacchetti. Brother, Gerald Ray White; Sisters, Mary Lynn Cook and husband Roderick, Lenettie Marie Hasty. And numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons and great grandsons, Michael Godfrey, Blake Godfrey, Stephen Sauce, Zachary Nelson, Bonner Fentress, and Brendan Fentress.
As a family we would like to offer our gratitude to the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care West for their thoughtfulness and care of our mom during all her visits with them.
Flowers may be sent to Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71108. In leu of flowers, Donations can be made in her name to Northwest Louisiana Spina Bifida Association (318) 677-4388.
