ST. MARY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: JOINER, MATTIE MELTON Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Jones Funeral Home, Inc., Morgan City and Franklin, La. Died 9 May, 2013 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= JOINER, MATTIE MELTON (July 4, 1920 - May 9, 2013) ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/stmary/obits/dateobits/2013/sm1305.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== Mattie Melton Joiner, was born on July 4, 1920, in Abbeville, La., and a resident of Gueydan, La., died on Thursday, May 9, 2013 6:50 PM at Gueydan Nursing Home. Visitation will be at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, 407 Duroq St., in Abbeville, La., Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Funeral Service will be Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM. She was the daughter of Eva Brown and John Melton. After the death of her father in 1925, she, her mother and brother, Roland, who died in 1945 aboard ship in the Pacific while serving in the Army, went to live with their maternal grandparents, Camilla and Adam Brown on Graceland Street. Her half-brother, Morris Allen Dore, Sr., was already living with his grandparents. Her mother died in 1973. Mattie married Raphael Joiner in 1946, and a few years later they adopted Melvin Belts, their only child, who died in 2011. Raphael died of a stroke in 1965. Mattie was a strong Christian, who read her Bible every day and faithfully attended services at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship Baptist Church every Sunday until she was no longer able to do so. She worked tirelessly raising money to build the church, giving generously of her own means, as well. She generously gave of her time, participating in all the church dinner sales and events by preparing and serving food. When she was unable to go to church, she continued to prepare food. She was known as the “pie lady,” who made hand pies— sweet potato, cocoanut and apple-- loved by everyone. She delighted in making those pies, which flew out the door as soon as they came out of the oven. People came from out of town for her delicious pies. She baked with joy, generosity and love. She enjoyed traveling to Seattle, Wash. and Portland, Oregon, where she visited her nieces and nephew. Two highlights of her travels were going to see Lena Horne perform in Seattle, and visiting the Oregon Coast and the monument where the Lewis and Clark Trail ended. Mattie is survived by: her grandson, Quinton Henderson; nephew Adam Dore, Sr. (Terry); nieces Jacqueline Merriwether (Clyde), Kenmore Wash.; Patricia Dore, Seattle; and Bobbie Dore Foster (Bernie), Portland, Ore., and great- grandchildren. She is also mourned by her caregivers, Adam, Terry, Adam Dore Landry, and Contessa Dore Falgout of Gueydan, La., as well as staff and friends at Gueydan Memorial Guest House, where she lived her last years after leaving the Dore home, and where she died. She will be missed by her many relatives and friends. She was predeceased by three half-siblings from her father’s first marriage, and nephews, Louis Dore, Seattle; and Morris Dore, Jr. (Elsie), Abbeville. ===================