JOSEPH NELSON CAMPBELL

Obituary

Joseph Nelson Campbell passed away in his sleep at his home, after a brief illness with cancer, on Saturday, March 14, 2020.  Joe was born on August 8, 1931.  He was the fourth of six children of Lottie May Kerns Campbell and Fred Leland Campbell.  Even though he was born in Front Royal, Virginia, he always considered Portsmouth, Virginia his home.  He was seven years old when he first came to the Park View section of Portsmouth.  In 1939, at just 8 years old, he sold local newspapers telling of the coming War in Europe.  He enjoyed making friends in every part of the neighborhood.  He also loved going to school, starting with Ann Street, following with Cook Street, Briggs, Harry Hunt and going to Woodrow Wilson High School from 1948-1951.  Sports was also very important to him, he was proud to make the football team at WWHS his Freshman year.  He graduated in 1951 after only three and a half years. He has remained lifelong friends with his High School Football Team members, meeting with them up until his death as part of the Gridiron Club.  He also coordinated the last Class Reunion for the Wilson High School Class of 1951 in 2018.

The year 1951 was an outstanding year in his life;  he was awarded a scholarship and tried out for college football team at Wake Forrest College, but injured his knee in early spring of 1951 and had to return home.  On March 3, 1951 he married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Dudley.  That same year he started his career with the United States Postal Service and joined the National Guard.  From 1951-1966 Joe served in the National Guard, doing one tour of duty in the Korean War, being Honorably Discharged in 1958 from active duty.

His career in the USPS was very successful, beginning in 1951 and retiring after 36 years of service in 1987.  During this service he served as Postmaster in several of the largest post offices in Virginia, including Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and finally Virginia Beach, Virginia.  He was selected as one of the first candidates in the Postal Executive Corporation.

Joe and Mary had a special nephew, David and niece, Dudley, that they were devoted to, as a loving Aunt and "Unkie Joe".  In May of 1965 Joe and Mary had their only son, Joseph Kerns "Kasey" Campbell.  Kasey was Joe's joy in life.  In 1986 the family moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  There Kasey met his wife, Dee and later they had two children.  "Papa Joe" was a wonderful Grandfather to his grandchildren, Nelson, who is his Namesake and Mary Stuart., after her Grandmother.  Joe served on the Town of Southern Shores, NC Town Council for two terms with collateral duties as Police Commissioner, Planning Board, Vice Mayor and Town Representative on the Dare County Area Development Commission, serving as President of the commission for two terms.  Joe also served on several local Boards and as President of Duck Woods Country Club.

He loved to play chess and bridge and had a local bridge group he met with several times a month.  In 2003 Joe and Mary moved to Smithfield, Virginia to be closer to family.  In March 2003, Sam the Bichon, a special companion, was born.  Joe just lost Sam in 2020 and he will be laid to rest adjoining Mary and Joe.  Joe served on the Town of Smithfield's Board of Zoning Appeals for five years and he was active in the Cypress Creek Homeowners Association.  He was awarded the "Cypress Creek Volunteer of the Year for 2019". In 2010 Mary and Joe celebrated 59 years of marriage with an Anniversary Party in Cypress Creek.  Sadly, Mary passed away in July 2012 from natural causes.   Joe was a Docent at the 1750 Isle of Wight Courthouse from 2015-2019.  He loved to play chess and bridge and had a local bridge group he met with several times a month.

Joe was proud of his brothers and sisters, all of them had reached their 80 ^th year of life.  He was predeceased in death by his wife of  61 years, Mary Dudley Campbell and his sister, Jean Campbell Rozier.  Joe is survived by his only son, Joseph Kerns "Kasey" Campbell and wife DeMott "Dee" Booker Campbell and his grandson, Joseph Nelson Campbell II and granddaughter, Mary Stuart Campbell Taylor and husband, Joshua Emory Taylor, all of Smithfield, Virginia.   He is also survived by a special nephew, David Anthony Shea of Smith Mountain Lake and niece, Dudley Shea DeStefano and husband Dan DeStefano of Glen Allen, Virginia.  Joe is also survived by his brothers, Fred Leland Campbell   of Nags Head, NC, and Adolph and Mavis Campbell of Louisiana, sisters, Clara Johnson of Ohio and Cindy Holmes of Maryland.  He was an Uncle and Great Uncle to many Campbell nieces and nephews.

The burial will take place on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 11 o'clock am at St. Luke's Memorial Park Cemetery at 14477 Benn's Church Blvd. in Smithfield, Virginia. Baker-Foster Funeral Home is making all arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the American Cancer Society.  Due to the current circumstances in our environment, A Celebration of Life will be arranged for a later date.  Joe described himself as "Chief, Head of Efforts and Passer of all Misinformation".  We would like to remember him as our Sunshine, he was larger than life, generous always, and a very loving man.

Written by Mary Stuart Taylor, Dee Booker Campbell  and Joe, himself.