Joe Wheat

Joe Ray Wheat, 84, of Union City went home to be with the Lord 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Edmaiston Mosley is in charge of arrangements.
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday at Second Baptist Church. Brother Russell Zik and Pastor Justin Hiens will officiate. Burial will follow in Obion County Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the hour of services Friday.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Glover, Tyler Ferguson, Mark Ward, Roger Woodward, Barry Little and Royce Morgan. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Joe Wheat Sunday school class.
Joe was born Nov. 5, 1937, in Bogalusa, La., son of the late Robert Clarence and Grace (Applewhite) Wheat. He married Michelle (Homra) Wheat May 28, 2004. She survives. Joe had been employed as captain of the Bogalusa Fire Department for 16 years, the former Turner Dairy in Fulton for 17 years as distribution manager and facilities superintendent at Second Baptist Church for seven years. He was a member of Second Baptist Church, where he taught the Joe Wheat Sunday school class and had sung in the choir.
At the time of his death, Joe was serving as music director of Mt. Pelia Baptist Church. He had served as music director and youth minister since the age of 20 at churches in several other states. Joe was a veteran of the United States Navy Reserve.
He is also survived by two daughters, Kathy Vowell (Richard) of Martin and Cindy Ferguson (Scott) of South Fulton; a daughter-in-law, Valorie Wheat of Bradenton, Fla.; two sisters, Ella Fay Day, Joe’s twin, and Betty June Stogner, both of of Bogalusa; one brother, Robert Wheat (Mary) of Baton Rouge, La.; two stepdaughters, Kelly McDaniel (Shane) of Lexington, Ky., and Kristen Greer of Union City; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Joe Allen Wheat.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Second Baptist Church or the Second Mile Center, 831 North Everett Blvd., Union City, TN 38261.
To leave messages of condolence for the family, visit the funeral home website at www.emfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Messenger 10.12.22