"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7

Retired Major Joseph Haywood Perry was a leader whose life we will honor and whose faith we shall imitate.

Joseph Haywood Perry was born on July 5, 1937, to Otha and Glenza Perry in Long Branch, New Jersey. He was subsequently raised in Franklinton, North Carolina. He is blessed with an older sister Bessie Tillman of New Rochelle, New York, and an older brother X.Xere Perry of Charlotte, North Carolina. His mother was called home to Christ in her early 30s and his father married Rosa and they were fruitful in offspring. Joseph was blessed with an additional nine siblings over the next 20 years. They include Norris Perry of Corpus Christie, Texas; Mattie Chavis of Franklinton, North Carolina; Minister David Perry of Durham, North Carolina; Arthur Perry of Franklinton, North Carolina; Charlie Perry of Franklinton, North Carolina and Matilda Perry of Raleigh, North Carolina. Major Perry was proceeded in death by his brothers Forest Perry, Steven Perry and Jonathan Perry. His siblings brought about a host of in-laws that extended the family.

Leadership embodied the essence of Retired Major Joseph Haywood Perry. After completing B.F. Person-Albion High School in Franklinton, North Carolina in 1955, he went on to attend and graduate from North Carolina Central University and in 1959, with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. In 1961, he was drafted into the United States Air Force. He joined officer training school and graduated as a First Lieutenant. He received his first commission in August of 1965. He continued to excel at advanced courses in organic chemistry, speed reading and analytical geometry from San Antonio Junior College and the University of Virginia from 1963 to 1967. From 1967 to 1969, he toured in Turkey and endured race fueled challenges that we can only imagine as a black officer in the USAF. Yet, he persevered as a leader. On December 4, 1968, he was blessed with his oldest son, Joseph Perry, Jr. Joseph, Sr. went on to obtain yet another Bachelor's degree in Industrial Business Management from the University of North Dakota in 1972. He taught Race Relations courses to the enlisted and commissioned military personnel in Okinawa, Japan from 1974 to 1976. Throughout the 1970s he taught a myriad of courses to the servicemen of the USAF. He was still able to earn a Master's Degree in Human Relations Management from the University of Oklahoma in 1978. After this venture, he made his way to Vandenberg AFB, where he was a communications manager. He was honorably discharged from the USAF in 1984, as a Major. He served and protected us for over 24 years.

The retired Major's life continued to exemplify leadership. He worked as a substitute teacher in the Lompoc Unified School District. He went on to start his own business "Tax on Wheels," in which he performed booking keeping, payroll and tax preparations for several local businesses. He became an integral part of the Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church and solidified one of his life purposes by becoming a Deacon. This is a definitive example of his spiritual leadership.

In 1996, he wed the lovely Victoria and the family expanded to three additional children; Christopher Hayes, India Hayes and Joshua Otha Perry. Perhaps India gave him the most precious gift of his first grandson, Sebastian Oliver in 2016. He remained in spiritual, marital, and career bliss, as a leader in his own right, until he was called home to Christ.

A visitation will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel on Wednesday April 12, from 4-7 pm. A funeral service will be held at Grace Temple Baptist Church on Thursday, April 13 at 11 am with burial at Lompoc Cemetery District.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to a memorial fund in his name at Rabobank, account 631 391 455.

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7