Joe Cephas Geren Jr.

Joe Cephas Geren Jr., "Joe" or "Cephie" to family and friends, has left the care of his loving wife Judy and their children, Shane and Aimee, to enter the arms of his Lord and Saviour.

Cephie was born in July 1943 to Joe Cephas Geren Sr. and his wife, Edna Bigham Geren. His parents both predeceased him, as did his sister, Ethelle and Bobby Goodman; his younger brother, Ricky Geren; and Ricky's son, Skidder. He is survived by his wife, Judy Lawson Geren, and their two children, Shane and Aimee; one sister, Rita Geren Burns; his nieces and nephews and their families, Shonna Goodman Linn, Rhonda Goodman McAlister, Brandy and Brandon Burns, and Buck Geren; and his in-laws, Jerrie Best and John and Kim Lawson.

For the past several years, Cephie had been struggling with rheumatoid arthritis and the many complications that developed from the autoimmune disease. Cephie worked at Bowaters for over 43 years. He served as a deacon for 50 years at New Friendship Baptist Church down in the Chatata Valley. He loved his Lord and his dear friends in his church family.

Cephie always lived in the Michigan Avenue community. His Geren family lived at the top of Peach Orchard Hill Road. Both his maternal and paternal families were original settlers of Bradley County, so Cephie had a multitude of local familial connections to the Gerens and Bighams and many area families.

He attended all eight years of elementary school at the old Michigan Avenue School "on the corner" with the big trees. Cephie and Judy were high school sweethearts at Bradley Central High in the 1960s. After serving in the United States Air Force Reserve, Cephie and Judy married in 1966 and celebrated 60 years of marriage this past summer. They were blessed to welcome two children, Shane and Aimee, into their family.

A man with a beautiful smile and a calm demeanor, Cephie worked tirelessly at his job, in the family peach orchard, and for his church. Throughout the years, he was called upon by his mom, his mother-in-law, and Grandma Lawson to come help her get "just a few more baskets of cull peaches" from the family orchard. He answered all their needs without complaint.

He loved immaculate yards, even with all the involved mowing and trimming. As his illness developed, Cephie passed his multiple yards and mower keys on to his son Shane.

It wasn't all work. Cephie was able to travel with cousins Joe and Judy to Alaska, Mexico, Washington State, Nevada, and Arizona; with the Coker family on multiple beach vacations to Folly Beach and to the Smoky Mountains; and even on a special trip with Dr. Glick Walker's "Babes on Broad" to the Miss America Pageant in New Jersey.

This week brought the loss of a best friend, a much-loved husband and father, and a greatly respected man. Age and illness may have put an end to work and adventure, but nothing can dim his smile in our memories.

Cephie's family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 26th, at New Friendship Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. A graveside service will follow at New Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jamie Creekmore, Josh Sanders, Andy Cox, Erick Lawson, Garth Best, and Kent Linn.

Companion Funeral & Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Geren family with these arrangements.