Sheila Joan Dessaint

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Sheila Joan Dessaint passed away on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at the Athens Convalescent Center in Athens, Ala., after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 69.

Born Sheila Joan Popham on Oct. 17, 1940, in Du Quoin, Ill., she was the daughter of Clyde Popham and Evalene (Kelley) Popham. In 1958, the Popham family relocated to Azusa, Calif. Joan was married to Vaughn Dessaint and raised five children. She worked as an Avon representative for 25 years, as well as a caring home health care provider. In 2003, she left California for Athens, Ala., to be close to her brother and mother.

Throughout her life, she was deeply devoted to her family and touched the hearts of everyone she met with her compassion, kindness and good humor.

She is survived by her brother, David Popham; sons - Michael, Kelly and Jason Dessaint; daughters - Vonda Dessaint-Trujillo and Amy Dessaint; and grandchildren - Kyle, Chloe and Karli Dessaint, Nicole Rodriguez, Maegen and Jakob Trujillo, and Juliette Dessaint; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents and twin sister Janice Anita.