JOYCE POTTS FAULKNER,
86, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021, following her brief battle with lung cancer. Joyce was born in Benton, Arkansas, the daughter of Velma and Hiram Potts. Following the death of Hiram, when Joyce was only two years of age, Velma married Mr. Jesse Moore and Joyce was the apple of his eye. She was a graduate of Benton High School, Class of 1952, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Anthropology.
Joyce was an avid tennis player and, along with her late husband Jim, won several state mixed-doubles tennis championships. In addition, they were founders of the Arkansas Tennis Patron’s Association. Joyce also served as captain of her women’s tennis team for many years. Traveling was a great passion for both Joyce and Jim, which included visiting 127 countries. When recently asked which trip she found most memorable, she quickly replied “all of them” because they were each so unique in their own way. These trips will always be remembered with beautiful pictures, wonderful stories and many journals detailing their adventures.
Joyce and Jim leave behind a tremendous legacy at the University of Arkansas. They supported numerous initiatives, such as the Chancellor’s Society, the Joyce and James H. Faulkner Band Scholarship, and most notably, the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. Joyce loved her Benton roots. This is evident by her scholarship gifts for Benton and Malvern High Schools, a mural in the Saline County Library and helping to spearhead the campaign for the Benton High School Panther Sculpture.
Joyce will be remembered for her love of learning, wit and making each gathering fun and memorable. She took every opportunity to remind her children and grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Jojose”, how proud she was of each of them.
Joyce was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Jim Faulkner; her parents; and two sons, Zan Davis and Phil Faulkner. She is survived by her daughters Amy Parker (Greg), of College Station, Texas; Brianne Bush, Lisa Breau (Randy) and Sue Faulkner, of Little Rock; and grandchildren, Anna Davis, Hannah Breau, Connor Breau, and Cate Parker, of Little Rock, Christopher Faulkner of Denver, Colorado, Davis Parker, of College Station, Alex Bush (Nicki), of Ashburn, Virginia, and Mackenzie Bush, of Seattle, Washington.
A graveside service will be held Friday, May 14, 2021, 2:30 p.m., at Forrest Hills Cemetery, 10200 Highway 5 North, Alexander, Arkansas. For online condolences, please visit: smithfamilycares.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Dr., Little Rock, Arkansas, 72212, Arkansas Food Bank, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences or a charity of your choice. A special thanks to Dr. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis and Dr. Nikhil Kumar Meena, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the wonderful caregivers with Shawnda’s Elderly Care, and her cherished friends of her Mahjong group. Services by Smith little Rock Funeral Home, (501)2242200.