Joseph F Pennell Jr. went home to be with the Lord on November 23, 2023.

His life started in Starkville as the second child and only son born to Fontaine and Mary Pennell in August of 1954. He was raised to work hard and play hard, starting the day hauling hay and ending the day fishing as the sun set.

After high school, Joe focused his work ethic toward a degree in business at Mississippi State University while working part time at MSU Police Department. After graduating from college, he took a job with the Starkville Police Department. Looking for a safer career to support the family they hoped to grow, Joe left the police department and started a career at Gulf States Manufacturing, Inc. that would last 37 years.

He never lost his love for the farm he grew up on and continued to work hard every summer to cut, rake, and bale hay. The bales often left the farm to go to those who needed it but were not able to afford it, with the assurance that they would pay when they could. Joe would conveniently forget to collect those debts when he saw it was necessary.

Joe was a “see a need, fill a need” kind of man, and in 1988 he joined with other like-minded servants and founded the Volunteer Fire Service in Oktibbeha County. Through hard work and dedication, they grew from one department into seven fully equipped departments to cover the county. In 2013, he rose to the rank of chief of Central Oktibbeha Fire Department. His love and dedication to the department and the work they did was only surpassed by his love and dedication to his Lord and Savior.

Joe was a servant in the truest sense. Throughout his life, he always sought to serve others, whether on the board of local charities, the water association board, or as a member of the safety team at First Baptist Church, where he dutifully served and protected the congregation and staff during Sunday services.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Merry; three children, Katie Ruth (Dale), Ben, and Sam (Delisa); two granddaughters, Lindsey Claire Ruth and Gracee Edwards (Seth); one great-granddaughter, Anderson Edwards; his sister, Janice Guice; two nieces; several great-nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Leanna Lindsey Hollis; and nephew, Ryan Hollis.