Wills and Bequests: Even at 89, She's Not Finished

Joyce Henson has been an advocate of the black community and the United Methodist Church throughout her life, and even at age 89, she's not finished.

She recently redrafted her will to provide scholarships for black United Methodist seminary students.

Instead of just leaving her estate to a charity, she is using her assets to create an endowment at the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. The earnings from the endowment will fund the scholarships forever.

Her forethought and planning will have far-reaching effects in spreading the word of God, as well as helping those who have the qualities to be a talented minister, but perhaps not the resources.

"Many black people are very capable of being a good pastor, but they can't afford school. My gift will help that. I feel real good about that, and I'm delighted it worked out this way," she added.

Joyce's Methodist family roots run deep. She was born in 1932 in Lafayette and raised in the faith at what is now Louisiana Avenue United Methodist Church. Her mother's family lived in Jeanerette and donated the property over 150 years ago to build St. Peter United Methodist Church.

Joyce has been an active member at Covenant United Methodist Church in Lafayette since 2001 and has served as a delegate to the Annual, Jurisdictional and General Conferences.

Writing a will is a way to legally state how you want your property or estate distributed after your lifetime. Without one, a court specifies how your assets will be distributed and there is no provision for the causes or ministries you cherish.

Because of her will, Joyce's commitment to education and the black church community will carry on through the endowment, after her lifetime.

No, she's not finished; her commitment will last forever.