Joe Lee Gordon, Sr.

It is with a shout of joy and a grateful heart that I say, “See you in the morning!” to all those I leave behind! For I knew that if this old earthly body gave out, that I had a building from God, eternal in the Heavens, not made by man’s hands. I have overcome the world because my faith did not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. Many have wondered why I lived as long as I did because I have been sick for many years, but I must remind each of you that all things are possible, if only you believe in God Almighty. I fought a good fight, and I kept the faith. stripes, I am now Heavenly healed. 

My life began in Hampton County, South Carolina, on February 11, 1953, when God gifted a beautiful bundle of joy to the late Clarisa Garvin Gordon and Willie Gordon. My parents named their blessing Joe Lee Gordon, Sr., but to my family and friends, I was affectionately known to them as “Mickey.” 

I always knew that education would be the key to a successful life, so I was educated in the Hampton County public school system. I was a member of the Estill High School, Class of 1971. During high school, I was an all-around athlete who passed my love for sports and the gift of playing to my offsprings. I played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. Basketball was my niche, and I really excelled in this sport.

The day after graduation, I left for Sanford, Connecticut, searching for the American dream of prosperity. While living in Sanford, I attended vocational school, because I needed to enhance my skills to get a good job. I was able to secure a good job with the Machine Factory Company in Sanford, Connecticut. After a few years, I started missing my family and friends in the South as well as the peace and tranquility of Southern living, so I returned to my hometown of Estill, South Carolina.

Serving God and others is not about doing great things but about doing small things with great love. I accepted Christ as my personal Savior at an early age and was united with Sweetrose Baptist Church which provided me with a strong love for serving God. In my later years, I became a trustee at Sweetrose Baptist Church and served faithfully until my health failed.

The Bible tells us that, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” In 1974, I met a beautiful young lady from Sumter, South Carolina, named Ethel McCutchen, and we were joined in holy matrimony in December of 1976. I found a lady who believed in the marriage vow of in sickness and in health because she took very good care of me until the end of my earthly journey. 

Anyone who knew me loved me. I never met a stranger, and if I did, they weren’t a stranger for long. People were naturally attracted to me because of my personality. I had a personality that lit up a room upon my entrance. I also loved entertaining and making my family members and friends laugh. My favorite teams were the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bulls. I enjoyed listening to music, painting, cooking on the grill, cooking, and hunting. I worked as a forklift driver at Holland Atlantic Hitch in Denmark, South Carolina, for over 25 years until my health failed. My co-workers became my extended family and friends. 

No man knows the time of day when their earthly days are over. My earthly life was over on July 20, 2024. I was preceded in death by my parents, Clarisa and Willie Gordon; brother, John Henry Gordon; sisters, Rosa Jane Funches and Curlene Frazier; grandson, Xzayvion Gordon; two very best friends, Carey Bias of Denmark, SC, and Charles Beckett of the Bronx, New York.

I leave to cherish my memories: my loving wife of 47 years, Ethel Mae McCutchen Gordon of Estill, SC; daughters, Sharonda Gordon (caregiver) of Estill, SC, Keandra Gordon of Charlotte, NC, and Tonya Jones of Sumter, SC; bonus daughter, Latesha Dennis of Sumter, SC; sons, James Gordon of Sumter, SC, William Spencer of Montgomery, AL, and Anthony Lee of Columbia, SC; nine grandchildren; sisters, Louise Wright, Henrietta Simmons, and Clara Evans, all of Estill, SC; brothers, Wilbert Gordon and Jimmie Lee (Kathy) Gordon, both of Estill, SC; and several nieces, nephews, other family members of Denmark, SC, other extended family, and friends.

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