Mrs. Josey Syrie, 87, of Beaumont, Texas passed away on Monday, October 12, 2020 at her home in Beaumont, Texas surrounded by her family.

As an abundance of caution, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will hold a private funeral on Saturday, October 24, 2020, with burial to follow at Magnolia under the direction of Mercy Funeral Home.

Attendance will be limited to the family and home church.  A public viewing will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m., followed by a wake service from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Mercy Funeral Home Chapel.

Josey Syrie

Jeremiah 1:5, (KJV). "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart."

Josey Polk Syrie was born to Earl and Lovenia Polk, on November 7, 1932, in Petit Tainse, Louisiana.  The last survivor, she was the tenth of twelve children born to this union.

Proverbs 15:14a, (KJV). "The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, ..."

She was educated in Iberia Parish public schools and graduated in 1951, from Henderson High. She worked as a clerk in the office of Dr. Pimbleton after graduation.

Ecclesiastes 4:9, (KJV). "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?"

On July 19, 1952, Josey and Albert Syrie united in marriage. To this union, five children were born: Phyllis, Albert Jr., Wanda, Sharon, and Byron. In 1953, the Syrie's relocated to Beaumont, Texas.

Once in Beaumont, Albert and Josey joined Bethel Baptist Church. Later the Syrie's united with Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church where Josey remained faithful until her health failed. For over fifty years, she was a member of the Senior Choir, often featured as a soloist sharing her melodious soprano voice.  She also served dutifully as a Youth Director, Matron, and Coordinator of the Vacation Bible School. Additionally, Sister Syrie faithfully served as a deaconess and as a member and teacher of both the Rose of Sharon and the Love Circles.

Proverbs 22:6, (KJV). "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Our mother was extremely devoted to her family and was always there with love and a caring spirit to support her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was diligent in raising her children to love and have admonition for The Lord. As a Christian mother, she was known to pull her children together, much to our objections, to lead us in a family circle for prayer and bible study.

I Timothy 5:8, (KJV). "But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

To help provide for her family, Josey was employed by various companies including Munros Laundry and Booker T. Washington Elementary, as a cafeteria worker. Her most prominent employment was with the former Beaumont State Bank where she started out as a document runner, then advanced to book-keeper, and finally promoted to the position of a bank teller. From her drive-in teller window, she was a favorite of many bank customers, thereby making many friends in the community. Josey retired from the bank after ten years of service.

Additionally, throughout her life, Josey demonstrated mastery as a seamstress and a skillful crochet craftswoman. With these skills, she created beautiful clothing and Afghans for her children and grandchildren.

In her retirement, she continued to devote herself to her family.  She and our father helped raise grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They welcomed and cared for every new addition to the family, accepting the responsibilities of providing custodial care for five years, raising their first two great-grandchildren, Kamari and Jamari. They were taken in at two years old and ten months old, respectively.

Matthew 25:14-30, (KJV). "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents,.......The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things…"

Without a doubt, though not all with money,  Josey invested in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her investments were things more valuable than riches, such as investments that have the potential to do, they can extend well past the life of the initial investor.  Her investment has done just that. She has left with her survivors, and those whose lives she touched, a great inheritance filled with a love for God, love for family and others, education, and spiritual knowledge.

Psalms 139:9-10, (KJV). "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Preceding her in death: her parents--Earl Polk and  Louvenia Viltz Polk, her siblings--Esther Noah, Emyrtle Polk Hector, Joseph Warren Polk, Enola Polk Jackson, Dorothy Simon, Loumertha Love, Ella Polk, Earl Polk, Harding Polk, Barbara Polk and Harold Polk and Gretchen Arceneaux. And also two grandchildren--Demecia Guidry and Micah Harris.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband-- Albert Syrie, Sr., her children--Phyllis Syrie Harris, Albert Syrie, Jr., Wanda Syrie Keys, Sharon Carrington (Dr. R. D. Carrington, Sr.), and Byron Syrie;

grandchildren--Jamil Syrie, JoAnna Harris, Jennifer Keys-Allen (Ronnie), Kenneth C. Harris, Michael Keys (Amanda), Lisa Harris, Ross Carrington, and Raphael Carrington; great-grandchildren--Kamari Syrie, Jamari Syrie, Jamil Syrie Jr., Bra'la Keys, Demetries Syrie, McKinley Harris, Ayva Keys, and Naomi Syrie.

Along with her offsprings waiting to be reunited with her are a lifelong special friend--Clara Oliver, her niece,  a daily phone companion--Ive Jean Lundy;  other nieces, nephews, cousins, Pilgrim Rest Church Family, and a host of friends.

Therefore, this is not goodbye, instead, as Josey would always say, "See 'ya later."