Poplarville
Funeral Home
White Funeral Home
Visitation
White Funeral Home, 315 Hwy 11 South, Poplarville, MS, Wednesday, March 13, 2024 5-8 pm.
Service
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 10 am, First United Methodist Church, 708 Julia Street, Poplarville
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on March 8, 2024, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Master Sergeant Joe Wesley, age 92, who had served within the MSARNG in the 1065th Transportation Company has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:
Joe “Papa Joe” Wesley, age 92, of Poplarville, Mississippi departed this life into God’s presence on Friday, March 8, 2024. Papa Joe was born in Poplarville, Mississippi to Dwight L. Wesley, Sr. and Dexter Yeager Wesley. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Poplarville. In his later years he attended many different churches and loved sharing his testimony and witness about God. He was very involved in the Lord’s work. He loved children and would offer them peppermint candy, which he kept in his pocket, along with a smile and kind word.
Papa Joe was a giving man, when he saw a need he would meet it. Through his lifetime he touched many lives. His heart was for the Lord and he lived to serve the Lord. He served as a Gideon for many years. He loved God, his family and his country and he proudly served in the United States Army for approximately 23 years before retiring from the military. Joe also re-enlisted in 1991 during Desert Storm.
He founded and operated, Wesley Fertilizer Plant in Poplarville, Mississippi in 1960 for 45 years. Joe graduated from Pearl River Agriculture School. He was a farmer, cattleman and a storyteller. In 2002 he was the Tall Tale Champion at the Dixie National Western Festival winning the prized belt buckle. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dwight L. Wesley, Sr. and Dexter Yeager Wesley; wife of 62 years, Fern Tynes Wesley and two brothers, Dwight L. Wesley, Jr. and Robert Ben Wesley.
Left to forever cherish his memory are his three children, Katie Allen (Steve) of Poplarville, Mississippi, Jody Wesley (Angie) of Poplarville, Mississippi and Andy Wesley of Poplarville, Mississippi; four grandchildren, Jay Wesley, of Poplarville, Mississippi, Shane Wesley, of Poplarville, Mississippi, Hali Beech (Jeremy) of Picayune, Mississippi and Alexis Addotto (Daniel) of Old Hickory, Tennessee; three great-grandchildren, Tristan Beech, Mason Beech and Oaklee Mae Beech; many nieces, nephews, cherished friends, prayer partners, including a special friend, Gretta Hendricks with whom he studied the bible and prayed for others.
Family and friends are invited to attend Papa Joe’s Visitation at White Funeral Home, 315 Hwy 11 South, Poplarville, MS on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024 for 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church, 708 Julia Street, Poplarville, Mississippi. Burial will follow at Poplarville City Cemetery, 100 Larkin Smith Drive, Poplarville, Mississippi.