Joyce Cole, 85, of Milan, Tennessee, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 24, 2026, at NHC Healthcare in Milan.

Joyce was born on November 13, 1940, to the late Russell and Louise Riddick. The oldest of five children, she grew up in Paris, Tennessee, and lived in Milan for most of her adult life.

Joyce had a beautiful singing voice and released several singles during the 1960s and 1970s, many of which were played on area radio stations. She also recorded numerous radio advertising jingles and performed as an entertainer in the Miss Tennessee pageant in Jackson, TN, during the early 1970s, and regularly appeared on Ralph Emery’s Nashville morning show. Over the years, she performed at many well-known venues, including the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

Joyce was also creative and had a gift for making others feel special. She enjoyed flower arranging, home decorating, and helping women feel beautiful through her work with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She hosted home parties and eventually became a sales director. In her later years, Joyce enjoyed reading and playing cards with friends.

She is survived by her four daughters: Lisa Tucker of Franklin, Tennessee, and her husband, John; Julie Frazier of Dyersburg, Tennessee, and her husband, Barry; Christy Ferrell of Gibson, Tennessee; and Kelly Cole of Milan, Tennessee.

She is also survived by six grandchildren: Keri Jo Coleman and her husband, Jason; Whitt Tucker and his wife, Samantha; Jed Walker and his wife, Liz; Clay Tucker and his wife, Klare; Kelsey Wills and her husband, Blake; and Cody Honeycutt. Her five great-grandchildren are Jakob Wilhite, Olivia Coleman, Sam Walker, Sadie Tucker, and Dori Tucker.

Joyce is survived by three siblings: Judy Baird, Tony Riddick and his wife, Carol, and Doug Riddick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Cole, and her sister, Carol Riddick.

A memorial and celebration-of-life service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Bodkin Funeral home in Milan. Visitation will be at 1:00 PM with a service at 2:00 PM.