Joy Anne Parks Earnest

Joy Anne Parks Earnest, age 79, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and wife of the late JR Earnest, departed this life Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Joy was born May 17, 1946 in Somerville, the daughter of the late Carroll M. Parks and Mary Boothe Parks. She was employed with the Town of Somerville as an accounting assistant for many years before her retirement and was a member of Parks Chapel Church where she was the organist. Joy was married September 15, 1967 to JR Earnest who preceded her in death on January 4, 2005 and she enjoyed flower gardening, fishing with her grandchildren, sewing quilts for her family and southern cooking.

Mrs. Earnest is survived by her son, Barry Earnest (Marla); her caregiver, Oma Dale Hailey; her sister, Virgie Parks Appling; two brothers, John F. Parks (Pete) and Dwight E. Parks (Ike); three grandchildren, Jay Earnest (Emmajoy), Cooper Earnest and Ella Earnest; her five nieces, Whitney Talbert (Ryan), Connie Ferge, Cookie Parks, Judy Wardlaw and Sue Houston; two nephews, Robert Wesley Appling and Carl Murrell Parks; and her pet dog, Bubba. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Carroll Conn Parks (Babo), Alfred Elliot Parks (Fert), James Raymond Parks (Porky) and Paul Edgar Parks (Gus). 

Memorial Services for Mrs. Earnest were held at 2 P.M. Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Ryan Talbert officiating. Interment was private.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Parks Chapel Church, 7855 Jernigan Drive, Somerville, TN 38068.