Joseph Millard (Joe) Hendricks

Joseph (Joe) Millard Hendricks Joseph Hendricks, age 81, of Macon, Georgia, died December 19, 2015, at his residence surrounded by his family. Private interment will take place at his farm in Talbot County. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 23, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. on the Mercer University campus. Joe was born September 10, 1934, in Talbot County near Woodland, Georgia, the son of the late Bertha and Charlie Hendricks and the step-son of the late Marion Hendricks. He deeply cherished his family and his rural upbringing. He earned degrees at Mercer University (B.A./1955), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div./1958), and Emory University (Ph.D./1989). His service to Mercer University extended from 1959 to 2002: Director of Religious Activities, Dean of Men, Dean of Students, Director of Upward Bound, General Assistant to President Rufus Harris, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of the Freshman Seminar Program, and Professor in the Departments of Christianity and Interdisciplinary Studies. He was the Columbus Roberts Professor Emeritus of Christian Social Ethics. During his 43 years of service to Mercer, numerous awards and honors were bestowed upon Joe but nothing was more valued by him than the relationships he had with his fellow colleagues and cherished students and alumni. Papa Joe (as he was called by many) was a strong but gentle man; he never shied away from hard work and difficult tasks. Joe's faith and desire to help people and his community and his strong convictions on social issues and racial justice led him to assume various leadership roles throughout the years in the City of Macon and in the State of Georgia. Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty McGahee Hendricks; a daughter, Catherine Hendricks of Carrollton, Georgia; a daughter, Barbara Jean Hendricks Barkley and her husband Ron Barkley of Basking Ridge, New Jersey; a son, Joe Hendricks and his wife Kelly Hendricks of Carrollton, Georgia; four grandchildren: Hannah Barkley, Ben Barkley, Joseph Hendricks, and Caroline Hendricks; one sister, Emily Daniel of Woodland, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Hendricks of Woodland, Georgia, and Barbara McGahee of Augusta, Georgia; and eight nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Hendricks and two brothers, Jeff Hendricks and Hugh Hendricks. The family wishes to express deep appreciation to the Glad River Congregation, Vineville Baptist Church, and all of the very dear friends who have been so supportive. If desired, gifts in memory of Joe may be given to Mercer University's Joe and Betty Hendricks Mercer on Mission Fund or the Joe and Jean Hendricks Minority Scholarship Fund (1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207), Loaves and Fishes Ministry (P.O. Box 825, Macon, GA 31202), or the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank (P.O. Box 5024, Macon, GA 31208). Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, 765 Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.