Dr. Joe John Harper, Jr., 81, passed away peacefully at his home on June 26, 2026.
Joe was born on October 16, 1944, at his family’s home just outside Whitakers, North Carolina. He was one of seven children born to Joe John Harper, Sr., a farmer, and Christine Lyde Smith Harper.
Growing up in a large, hardworking family, Joe learned the values of community and dedication early on. He attended North Edgecomb High School in Leggett, North Carolina, where he and his brother, Frank, proudly helped lead their team to win the 1963 State Basketball Championship.
After high school, Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from East Carolina College (now ECU). Following graduation, he honorably served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, guarding the Tuy Hoa Air Force Base. Then, he pursued his passion for eye care at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, where he met his wife, Melissa.
Dr. Harper went on to establish a distinguished 45-year career as a dedicated optometrist, providing compassionate eye care to the people of Lauderdale County and the surrounding areas. Helping his neighbors maintain healthy eyesight was the absolute joy of his life, and he truly cherished the deep relationships he built along the way. Before his passing, Dr. Harper specifically expressed how deeply grateful he was for the immense love, trust, and support he received from his beloved community over the decades.
He is survived by his loving wife, Melissa Wheeler Harper, and his devoted son, James Matthew Harper. He also leaves behind his sisters, Nancy Harper Vick (Clinton), Christine Harper Montgomery (Frank), and Elizabeth Snow Harper Dell Jones (David); his brother, Frank Harper (Janet); and many cherished nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Sr. and Christine, as well as his sisters, Doris Harper Hurst (Elwood) and Josephine Ardelia Harper Long (Cecil).
Services for Dr. Joe John Harper will be held on Friday, July 3rd, 2026 at Grace Baptist Church, located at 3819 Edith Nankipoo Road, Ripley, TN. Family visitation will take place from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, followed by public visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM, with burial to follow at Memorial Gardens.
