“In memory of the sudden passing of our brother, Joe (JV) Adcox, and on behalf of my siblings I would like to acknowledge and share the joy that his life brought to us, along with the pain that comes with his passing. Sharing the joy may lessen the pain and help to remember more of what he meant to us. We will not be able to attend the services because of the locked-down circumstances we are presently living under during this pandemic. I felt compelled to share his story any way I could because it is a great story.” –Roy Adcox
Joe was 73 years old when he passed away Friday, April 17, 2020 at the McKinney, TX Medical Center. He was born Joseph V. Adcox on October 28, 1946 to James V. Adcox and Pearlie B. Adams Adcox in the Bogalusa Community Medical Center. He leaves behind his wife, Karen Adcox, son Joseph V. Adcox Jr., daughter Alicia Carrera, Stepchildren, Christopher Trent, Tracy Trent-Flynn and Charles Turner. Grandchildren Anthony and Alex Carrera and Isabella Sydney Adcox, Seth, Vincent, Sylas, and Asher Turner. Sisters, Billie F. Moody and Minnie Starnes and a brother Roy Adcox. In addition, he had numerous aunts and uncles on both sides of the family and more first cousins than I could possibly count.
Growing up Joe was a great big brother to us. Quiet and unassuming but he would definitely give us a hard time if we got out of line (that mostly pertained to me of course) but let someone else be involved and it was “on” then. He would loan me his car after I obtained my driver’s license and helped me buy my first one while in High School.
We lived in proximity to our grandparents Joe and Elvie Adams, in a close-knit area within the Terrace part of town. Joe was very close with the Grandparents and often helped Grandpa Adams with the many projects he was working on. Joe attended the public schools in Bogalusa. When it was time for high school, he decided to follow in our cousin Wayne Adams footsteps and attend Varnado High, which is near Bogalusa, to play for the legendary football coach Daniel “Scrap” Fornea.
There he was a three-year letterman in football where he played halfback and linebacker and served as Co-Captain for the team during the 1965 season. I would marvel at the way he played with the long touchdown runs and ended almost every game bleeding from somewhere. He was my idol; I wanted to be just like him, minus the blood of course.
After graduating from high school in 1966 and working at the local paper mill, he often spoke of attending Pearl River Junior College and playing football there. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam had other ideas and drafted him into the Army in the summer of 1966. He attended basic training at Ft. Polk, LA. Joe made such an exceptionally high score on the entrance exams that he was recruited for a special assignment. He was sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for training in message encryption. He spent the next two years assigned to a top-secret messaging center in Taiwan, just off the coast of China. This was during the Vietnam War.
After his honorable discharge from the military in 1969 he did attend PRC but after a few terms decided to go into the construction business with Uncle JW Adcox. They built homes and other construction projects, mostly in the Slidell and South Mississippi areas in the 1970’s and early 80’s. He also managed a few of Uncle JW’s establishments in the Slidell area. In fact, when he heard I dropped in on one of them with some friends, he ordered me immediately dropped out, the door….because I was just 17 at the time, LOL. Thought I could get away with it since he was my brother but he was that straight forward and tough.
Joe moved to Tennessee in 1987 where he attended Tennessee State University and studied Nursing while working in the Smyrna area. In 1993 Joe developed an interest in Law Enforcement. He moved to Farmersville, Texas where he worked for and retired from the Collin County Sheriff's Office in 2011 after 18 years of service with the department.
During retirement Joe loved fishing, woodworking and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He would build porch swings and Adirondack chairs while helping Karen with her many animals, horses are her favorites. He loved to communicate with family and friends on Facebook and seldom did he not “like” posts by them. Joe was an avid LSU Tiger and Saints fan, oh and he also followed the NY Yankees baseball team.
Joe will be remembered as a wonderful brother, father, grandfather, husband, uncle, cousin, nephew, a great friend, mentor, and a helpful handyman in his neighborhood. He lives on in our memories, photos, stories, and in what he helped all of us to become. Joe knew God and feels sure he is reunited with our Mother in Heaven.
On behalf of the rest of our family, I’d like to thank you all for the kind messages and posts.