Joy Jacob Williams

Monday, December 11, 2023, Joy Jacob Williams passed away at the age of 80 just a few miles from where she grew up in the 9th Ward of New Orleans.

Joy was born to Maurice and Anna Jacob on April 2, 1943, in New Orleans, LA. She was the oldest sibling to Christy and Drake. She graduated from Francis T Nicholls high school and was an active alumnus for many years. She also attended Southeastern Louisiana University where she met her first husband Bob Cazayoux. Their marriage interrupted her education and when the relationship dissolved, Joy returned to Southeastern to complete her degree in Education since she now had two sons to raise, Chriss and Holden.

Joy was an iconoclast. She enjoyed people and took care of them with gentle or tough love. As an educator, she made the decision to not promote her entire third-grade class. When she defended her actions to the school board, she validated the decision with data showing that the children did not arrive prepared for third grade. Two years later she was moved to fifth grade and welcomed many of the same students, who thrived on or above grade level. In the late 1970’s Joy became the first female umpire in the Slidell Youth Baseball Assoc., cultural norms be damned. The children (boys) needed someone to step forward so they could play. In support of her family, she took a second job managing the office for a construction firm; it was there that she met Buddy Williams, the love of her life. Those ironworkers, including Buddy, understood that she was as tough as they were. Later Joy became a leading realtor: President of The Women’s Council of Realtors and the President of the St. Tammany Board of Realtors. As a civic leader always delivering more and expecting more of others. For a few seasons she owned a piece of a NASCAR team and traveled every week with the team to compete. Again, she was early to the pits leading where few women were included.

Joy cherished her many friends. They worked together, raised children, entertained, and supported each other fiercely.  There are too many to name, but they all have wonderful stories to share. We hope they will.

Only one thing could limit her ambitions, family. When Joy became a grandparent, she shifted her focus inward. Taking care of her grandchildren or traveling the world with her brother Drake and her sister-in-law Linda. Grandma spent sleepless nights attending to her darling Payton and her health challenges. When her boys had an event, Grandma was there to watch the grandkids. Weeks at the beach, nights sleeping in the tree-house bedroom, or excursions to Piccadilly and the movies were always eagerly anticipated by Payton, Anna, Lyle, and William. Spoiling them was priority one.

Joy is preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Anna Jacob, her husband Buddy Williams, stepson Mitchell Williams, and her beloved granddaughter Payton Cazayoux.

She is survived by her siblings Drake Jacob and spouse Linda, Christy Lasalle and spouse Paul; children Chriss Cazayoux spouse Laura; Holden Cazayoux spouse Priscilla, stepsons Steven and Collin, grandchildren Lyle, William, and Anna; nieces and nephews Kyle, Lydia, Casey, Shannon, Shelly, Kathy, Leslie, and Leigh.

Family and friends are invited to visitation beginning at 9 AM on Monday, December 18, 2023, at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd W, Slidell, LA 70460. Funeral and burial services will follow at 11 AM.

Joy loved Christmas. Please feel free to wear Christmas apparel to celebrate the season.

Reception to follow, details at services.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to support the construction Children’s Hospital New Orleans, Walker’s Imaginarium: https://kjtf.chnola.org. CHNOLA took extraordinary care of her Payton and her great nephew Duncan.