William Joseph “Joe” Aldridge, Sr., 67, of Memphis TN, passed away on December 7, 2022. A visitation will be held Monday, December 12th at 1:00PM at Collierville funeral home with a service of remembrance to follow at 2:00PM.
Joe was born on September 27, 1955 to Robert and June Aldridge in Carrollton, GA. After graduating valedictorian from Carrollton High School in 1972, he went on to study Mathematics at the University of Georgia (1976).
Following his education at UGA, Joe attended law school at the University of Virginia (1979) and practiced as a commercial real estate attorney in Mississippi and Tennessee, most recently as member attorney at Apperson Crump.
Professionally, Joe was a member of the Memphis, Mississippi, Tennessee, and American Bar Associations. He was very active in his community, serving as board member of his church, St. Peter’s Catholic Church of Memphis TN, as well as board member of the Ric Nuber YMCA and Christ Community Health Center.
Personally, Joe was a unique character. He loved to laugh and to tell the occasional off-color joke. He loved small trinkets, pocketknives, and clocks. He was remarkably smart and always questioned everything. He was a voracious reader. He was a loyal friend. He was particularly bad at keeping secrets, especially when it came to sharing exciting news about his children.
Joe’s family meant more to him than anything else in the world. He was extremely close with his sister, Sue Nance, and loved joining her and the entire Nance family for Bulldogs games in Athens. Anyone who knew Joe knew how proud he was of his children and their families. He was the most loving father and grandfather “Grumpy” that anyone could ask for. Joe was predeceased by his wife Deborah J. Aldridge (Graziosi) of Drew, Mississippi, whom he loved.
He is survived by his daughter, Caroline Aldridge Walker (son-in-law, Marc E. Walker and granddaughter, Catherine August Walker); his son, William Joseph Aldridge, Jr. (daughter-in-law, Lee Bobo Aldridge and grandchildren Leslie Eason Aldridge and William Henry Aldridge); his reverse step-daughter Blair T. Durst (Matthew Durst and their child Trafford William Durst); his sister, Susan Aldridge Nance (brother-in-law, Flynn Nance and nieces and nephew, Emily Clay, Bob Nance, and Grace Nance) of Buckhead, GA; his former spouse, Ingrid Chilton, of Tiburon, CA, as well as numerous other family members and friends. He will be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ Community Health Services of Memphis TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colliervillefuneral.com for the Aldridge family.
