Joseph Carlton Posey, age 96, of Columbus died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2018 at his residence at Savannah Grand. Graveside Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 at the Posey Family Cemetery, 2136 Ginn Road, Ellerslie, GA with Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary in Columbus, GA. The family will receive friends at their residence on Stark Avenue in Columbus following the memorial service.
Born to Adeline Durden Posey and Theo Ennis Posey along with his twin Brother James Edward Posey in East Wynnton on February 5, 1922.
Joe attended Wynnton School, where he would later become involved with the celebration of its 150 yrs. He graduated from Jordan High School where he was the President of his Class and Captain of the ROTC and the Cheerleading Squad.
He served in the Navy as a Gunners Mate before being attached to the Marines on Guam as a SeaBee. (CB-Construction Battalion). He had many stories about his time there. In 1949, he married the love of his life Evelyn Rushin and would be married to her for 69 yrs. at the time of his passing. Their love was rare and an example for all who knew them through the years. Joe was a gregarious man and rarely met a stranger. He found people interesting and loved to share many stories with his friends and family. Joe and Evelyn loved their neighborhood and especially enjoyed entertaining the children that were welcomed for parties on most holidays. He taught many a child to fish at their pond in Ellerslie, including how to bait a hook w/ a cricket and how to clean a fish. Evelyn and Joe loved to have fish fries at Stark Avenue and in Ellerslie.
He was an avid gardener and kept gardens on Stark Avenue and Ellerslie and he loved sharing the bounty of the crops with many others. He was a founding member of The Men’s Garden Club of Columbus. In 1963, he and Evelyn bought Wynnton Hardware Co. on Henry Avenue where he worked until his retirement in 1998. His love of people and his naturally helpful nature benefitted the business long before ‘Big Box’ Stores existed. A sign in the store stated ‘We Have It, Come Help Us Find it’ and the Motto for the business was: Hardware for Hard Wear’. In 1974, he became fascinated with an automated nut-cracking machine from Texas and added 7 of those machines to the hardware store where the familiar thwack thwack could be heard for decades. Joe and Evelyn were members of Columbus Country Club and charter members of The Chattahoochee River Club. He was an early member of The Executive Club of Columbus and a life time member of the Mt. Herman Masonic Lodge. At the time of his passing Joe and Evelyn were members of The First Baptist Church of Columbus. His loving character and his many kindnesses will be missed by many.
He is predeceased in death by his son Joseph Carlton Posey Jr., his elder brother Theo Ennis Jr. and his twin James Edward. He leaves behind his loving wife of 69 years, Evelyn R. Posey of Columbus, and a son, John Edward Posey of Old Cape Code, MA., many nieces and nephews, and his many life- long friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to the charity of your choice or to the First Baptist Church Food Closet.
