Joe William Love, 80, of Orange Park, entered the sunset of life on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Stuart F. Meyer Hospice Care Center, Palm Coast. The son of John Wesley Love and Everlean Pressley, he was born on Friday, August 20, 1937 in Macclenny. Joe was the youngest of five children and the only boy in his immediate family. His childhood was spent primarily with his sisters and older family members while his mother worked long hours to support them. Fun for him and his sisters was working on their Grandpa "Honey's" (Bunch Pressley) farm and more specifically, getting paid for working. Joe saved most of the money he earned. Over time, he established the equivalent of a home based savings and loan program and extended small interest loans to his sisters and some friends from time to time. During his pre-teen and teenage years, Joe watched his step-father, John Fisher, exhibit a strong work ethic by maintaining at least two jobs at the same time. The goal of purchasing big ticket items such as bicycles led him to have multiple streams of income including newspaper sales, bagging groceries, carrying groceries, running errands and shining shoes.

A strong interest in education was developed early in Joe's life. He enjoyed learning new things and his inquiring mind often led to him to pose questions that usually started with the word "why" and more often than not, he posed questions that started with the phrase "why not". Love took advantage of formal educational resources such as books about numerous subject matters and informal educational resources such as conversations with neighbors and friends.

Prior to graduating from Dunbar High School, Love excelled in academics and athletics. His speed, agility and strength were constantly displayed on the football field. These abilities led to him being awarded an athletic scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College where he quickly obtained the starting running back position on the Wildcat Football Team. Love's athletic ability was not limited to football. A left handed swing, fast feet and a precise aim made him a force to be reckoned with on the baseball field. During the summer months of his college years, Joe usually visited his sister Catherine in New York. While playing baseball in a community recreation area there, Joe's skills were recognized by a recruiter affiliated with the New York Yankees. The recruiter made numerous attempts to persuade Joe to try out for the team. Remembering one of his guiding principles - finish what you start - Joe rejected the repeated offers to try out for the Yankees baseball team and instead, completed the requirements to earn a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education/Health from Bethune-Cookman College. He continued his quest for education by completing graduate level courses in Education Administration and Supervision at the University of North Florida.

Love valued education and nurtured his thirst for knowledge by reading anything that was in arms reach. Reading the newspaper every day was a proud habit he had developed. Before opening the pages of the newspaper, he would often say "Let me see what's going on in the world today!" Not only was he passionate about reading the newspaper, he enjoyed reading the works of philosophers like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. They were often referenced in speeches he delivered for various church or community functions. With great pride, he often shared stories about the sacrifices of our ancestors and the moral obligation we have to cherish them. Joe felt strongly that not knowing your history would place you in prime posture to repeat it. He regularly commented that knowledge is a tool that could never be taken away and voting is a right that should be not ignored. Love worked on the local level of two presidential campaigns: Carter and Clinton.

After graduating from college in 1961, Love returned to Green Cove Springs and began teaching Physical Education, Health, Driver Education and also coached football. Over the course of his career, his employment included working as a representative for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Police Officer, Vice-President of the Bank of Green Cove Springs, Housing and Community Developer, City Mayor, Executive Director of a non-profit organization and owner of a small corner store.

Joe took his role as provider for his family very seriously. He was married to the former Wilma Jean Gibson. Three children were born to this union. Family time was extremely important to him throughout his life. He made sure that everyone's birthday was acknowledged and celebrated with a personalized cake that he would pick up from Publix. The highlight of most weekends was chauffeuring the family to a mall and going out to dinner together. For many years, the end of the school year was marked with a family trip to Disney World.

Joe had several favorite pastimes. In addition to his obvious love for sports, he enjoyed being outdoors and discussing current events. He also enjoyed meeting up with his college classmate, Robert Dickerson and other retirees for coffee at various locations. There were special activities that he enjoyed with each of his children. He and Byron watched "Law and Order", sports events, westerns and the nightly news together. He and Carol took road trips, discussed society's hot topics and regularly dined together at his favorite spots – Soul Food Bistro, Cracker Barrel and Longhorn Steakhouse. He and Bryan had weekly conversations about sports updates, exchanged strategies for their favorite teams to excel and predicted championship outcomes.

Joe accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior early in his adult years and was baptized. He periodically attended St. Johns Baptist Church in Orange Park in his young adult years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville (Downtown) in late 1990's and in the early 2000's. More recently he became a member of the Wesconett Baptist Church of Jacksonville.

This man was no "Ordinary Joe". He was family oriented, strong willed and compassionate. His fearless nature, sense of humor, amazing wit and captivating story telling abilities made an impact on all who were blessed to know him.

He was preceded in eternal rest by his children's mother, Wilma Jean Gibson Love; three sisters, Lillie Mae Williams, Catherine Love Vanderhorst and Everbea Frasier.

He leaves to cherish his memories: sons and daughter, Byron William Love, Jacksonville; Carol (Rev. Edwin) Love Coffie, Palm Coast; Bryan (Shateena) William Love, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Dr. Ross Jones, Fleming Island; Edwin B. Coffie, Erica Jenae Coffie, and Brianna Love , all of Atlanta, GA; sister, Mercy Dee Solomon, Jacksonville; sisters-in law, Dorothy Gaskins and Linda Francis Gibson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, other relatives and friends, including: lifelong friend, Robert Dickerson; godson, Henry Floyd III and a very special friend & confidant, Darlene.

Homegoing Celebration will be 12 noon, Saturday, May 19 at St. James A.M.E. Church, 1324 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, with visitation one hour prior. Dr. Melvin Kennerly, Pastor of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, Jacksonville, is the eulogist. Interment will be in Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park.