Rev. Dr. Palmer Joe Whitt, age 89, formerly of Pickens County, AL — known as “Bro. Joe” by the masses and “Daddy Joe” by many—caring pastor, avid fisherman, hush puppy connoisseur, fart joke expert, and world-class storyteller, stepped into Glory for his Homecoming on Monday morning, June 14th, 2021. He left his earthly body while in the home of Alicia and Terry Cochran, his youngest daughter and son-in-law. There, he spent the last year of his life tanning by the pool, attending church on Sundays (sometimes virtually), riding four-wheelers, and growing a very fashionable goatee. You are invited to join us as we celebrate Daddy Joe’s life at 2:00pm on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Skelton Funeral Home Chapel in Reform, AL with Rev. Herb Thomas, Rev. Jeff Beech and Beau Tate officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in Bethel Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. The family will visit with friends from 12:00pm – 1:45pm at the funeral home. In honor of the dearly departed, the preaching will not last more than twenty minutes.
God must have chuckled a little extra as he knit together Daddy Joe. Take an extra dash of creativity here, a double dose of kindness there, an affinity for telling the occasional inappropriate joke and top it off with the deepest baritone voice ever heard, and you’ve got yourself the best person with which to share a morning cup of coffee. And boy, he sure did love his morning cup of coffee — just a splash of milk please, and a slice of sourdough bread with warm apple butter.
Daddy Joe was born to the late W. W. and Maggie O’Neal Whitt on November 10th, 1931, in Haleyville, Alabama. In his formative years, he was known for stealing watermelons with his buddies and keeping co-workers on their toes by lacing someone’s snuff with hot sauce and causing a concussion via a thrown cow kidney (don’t ask). Thank goodness he met Jesus before he fully embraced what was sure to be a life of crime.
In 1950, at just 18-years-old, Daddy Joe began his service to the United States Army as he bravely fought in the Korean War. His notorious frugality shone through here as he sold his whisky and cigarette rations in order to earn extra money; his unwavering toughness was evidenced as well as he battled frostbite in extreme conditions.
Upon returning home from Korea, he attended Howard College (now Samford University, where he also served on the Board of Trustees for over 30 years). He then began his nearly 70-year long pastoral career during which he loved the lost, cared for families, preached God’s Word, and touched countless lives through his generosity, compassion, and faithfulness.
In his later years, Daddy Joe often captured crowds big and small with his story-telling. He crafted his famous birthday cards from whatever he had on hand, and cheered on the Auburn Tigers with as much spunk and spice as ever. You could always count on Daddy Joe for a number of things: hunting on the brain, rings on his fingers, a Snickers in his belly, a walking stick in hand, a wealth of Scripture written on his heart, and a prayer on his lips. At the time
of his Homecoming, he was a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. He loved his church home and his Pastor, but never quite figured out why it was so cloudy in the Worship Center.
On the morning he passed, he was holding the hands of two of his daughters, Pam Whitt Goodman and Alicia Whitt Cochran, and now he holds the hands of his other two daughters — Emilyn Whitt Beachler and Susan Whitt Simpson — in Heaven. He is now also reunited with his parents, W. W. and Maggie Whitt, his late wife, Martha Lee Drake, and siblings W.O. Whitt (Jean), James H. Whitt, Frances Whitt Hackett (Clyde), Jean Whitt Roby (Jack), Martha Whitt Hoover, and Sarah Whitt Fuller (Charles).
Among those left on Earth missing Daddy Joe’s infectious personality and encouraging words are his daughters Pam Goodman (Kelvin), Alicia Cochran (Terry) and son-in-law Randy Simpson. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mrs. James (Mona) Whitt. He has left an incredible legacy behind to grandchildren Erin Shirley (Kevin), Ethan Simpson, Elliott Simpson, Shannon Grantham (Shawn), Whittney Tate (Beau), Rebecca Elliott (Coy), Sam Beachler (Sara), Kellee Jo Newsome (John), Zach Cochran, and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
If you asked Daddy Joe today, “What should I do before I die?” he would probably say something along the lines of the following: “Know Jesus, love your family, treasure your friendships, forgive freely, and go ahead and get that tattoo you’ve been thinking about.” He would also tell you to enjoy the splendors of life to the absolute fullest, and to never miss an opportunity to make someone laugh. He would encourage lots of fishing by the pond, snuggling with the family dogs, and visiting with dear friends on a front porch (but don’t visit TOO long — there’s a pet pig that needs to be fed). While Daddy Joe sure did soak up every bit of what life has to offer on this side of Heaven, as he entered in his last days, there was not one ounce of doubt of where he wanted to be. He was ready to go home — he was ready to meet His Savior, whose faithful hand has held him throughout a race so beautifully run, a fight so fervently fought. The first words he heard as he met his Maker were “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Daddy Joe has left behind a legacy of a life lived for Christ, a life lived to its fullest — full of love, full of laughter, full of zeal for joyous things big and small. May we all strive to embrace the beauty of an Amaryllis, the splendor in a slice of coconut cake, and the excitement of a Christmas morning like Daddy Joe. May we all strive to love those around us, lose ourselves to silliness, and embrace every trial we face, knowing the never ending joy that is promised to us in Christ.
Pallbearers will be Randy Simpson, Kelvin Goodman, Terry Cochran, Kevin Shirley, Beau Tate, Shawn Grantham, Ethan Simpson and Elliott Simpson.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
