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Joe Alley, 74, went to be with the Lord on April 5, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Greensboro, NC to the late Peter Stewart Alley and Rosetta Alley and preceded in death by his son, Christopher Alley.
He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-eight years, Carol Elledge Alley; two daughters: Joan Hunt and her husband Hubert, of Madisonville, KY and Linda Whitley and her husband Vince, of Selma, NC; three grandsons: Jason, Jonathan and Eric; and by six granddaughters: Laura, Hanna, Madison, Summer, Sydney and Grayce.
Joe will forever be remembered as the greatest brother by his sister: Carolyn Autry and her husband Buddy, of Greensboro and brothers: Alvis Alley and his wife Thelma, of Ocean Isle, NC and Donald Alley and wife Jane, of Clarksville, TN.
Joe loved the Lord and the Christian fellowship of Christ Baptist Church where he was a faithful member and served joyfully as an usher, a choir member and in numerous other activities, such as facilitating parking for the Saltshakers Bible Study. He faithfully served on the Board of Directors for the Pittsboro Retirement Village. He loved Christian music, laughing, being with family and having fellowship with friends. He touched the lives of many with his smile and generosity, and maintained his sense of humor to the end.
He loved old cars of the fifties and enjoyed traveling and spending time with the love of his life, Carol. After his retirement from car sales and management, he delighted in playing golf and making home repairs. His countless friends and family were blessed to know him and he certainly will be missed.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6:30 – 9:00 PM at Mitchell Funeral Home (7209 Glenwood Avenue). Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 8th at 11 AM at Christ Baptist Church. Interment to follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.
Memorial Donations may be made to Christ Baptist Church – 400 Newton Road – Raleigh, NC 27615.
Condolences to the family at www.MitchellatRMP.com
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Biography:
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Joseph Stewart Alley was born in Greensboro, NC on 11-12-35 to Peter Stewart Alley and Rosetta Rice Alley. He had an older brother, Alvis, and later a younger brother, Donald, and sister, Carolyn.
Joe grew up in a loving family, but in an era when times were hard. He was industrious and searched for ways to make things better. His first job was selling newspapers on a downtown street corner in Greensboro when he was 10 years old. He would take the bus downtown and back, coming home with a splitting headache from the smoke-filled buses, but he continued on. At 14, he was put in charge of running a little grocery store and grill and driving the store’s truck to make deliveries. Joe always took pride in his appearance and began to buy nicer clothes. He would often tell how irritated he would get when he started to get dressed, and his clothes were missing – brother Donald had helped himself again! And so his work career went – always looking for opportunities and pouring himself into whatever endeavor he was involved in. For many years he was in car sales and car dealership management positions, where he was loved by his customers who would repeatedly return to him when they needed a new car. After his retirement, he often met former customers who stopped him to talk and had fond memories of dealing with him.
Joe moved to Raleigh in 1958. He had 3 children, Cynthia Joan, Linda Jean, and Christopher Charles that he doted on. His job required many hours, but he spent every available minute with his children playing ball, going to the park, and most of all teaching them about the Lord.
In 1972, Joe married Carol Elledge whom he had met at work, and they began a wonderful journey together. They with the 3 children first lived in a rented house on Dixie Trail in Raleigh. In 1975, they bought a house on Shadyside Drive, where they remained. Joe took great delight in doing home projects. Although, he had no formal training in these projects, he could just look at something and know how to repair or remodel. He was truly amazing.
Joe was indeed a trooper, continuing on in the face of adversity. He had a stroke at the age of 49 and was diagnosed with prostrate cancer when 58. He kept on valiantly going. In 2007, he suffered a second stroke and while in rehab, his son, Christoper, was killed in a motorcycle wreck. Two days later, Joe went into cardiac arrest and was rushed into surgery with 4 stents inserted. Joe never got to see his son, and although he grieved much over that, he trusted that the Lord knew what he was doing. In fall of 2008, Joe began to have other problems, and after a year and a half and three doctors, was told that the prostrate cancer had returned and was not curable. Joe and Carol cried together many times but still remembered that God made us and could have changed the outcome.
Joe loved to share about the Lord, and was quick to tell you that he was saved in Sunday School and the verses his teacher used were Romans 10:9-10. Even as he was so ill in his last days, he was witnessing to the various nurses and aides who came in. Now he is with the Lord and free from pain. Joe was a humble man, never really thinking that he was highly regarded or had contributed that much to others, but he will have many crowns waiting for him. He was and continues to be used mightily of the Lord.
Philippians 1:3: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
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