Joseph ‘Pastor Joe’ Aaron Aldridge
Joseph “Pastor Joe” Aaron Aldridge, 76, of Jonesboro, entered into the gates of Heaven, serenaded by Angels on Dec. 22, 2020. He is finally home and resting in the Lord’s arms, free from cancer and effects from a stroke. We can only imagine how he felt when his eyes met the eyes of the Lord!
He was born on Feb. 17, 1944, the son of Aaron and Mary (Mattingly) Aldridge in Bardstown, Ky. He was the oldest of seven children born to this union.
He married Sheila Keen on Aug. 24, 1963, in Seatonville, Ill. From that union they were blessed with four children, Tim, Angela, Londa and Bridget. Together they shared 57 years creating many life memories.
He graduated from Hall High School in 1963 in Spring Valley.
He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in at the age of 10. He surrendered to preach at the age of 18. He attended the Clark Memorial in Mississippi and Moody Bible College.
Pastor Joe was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister. He ministered in Arkansas, Texas and Illinois. In February of 2010 he retired from the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, after suffering a stroke.
He loved to sing and had a recording from Nashville, Tenn.
His greatest joy and desire was serving the Lord. He was honored to have led each of his children to the Lord and baptized his wife and each of his children and several of his grandchildren.
Through all of his afflictions, he remained strong and faithful to the Lord. “If one person comes to know the Lord through my afflictions and death, then it was all for the good” – those were Pastor Joe’s word.
Pastor Joe is survived by his wife, Sheila of Jonesboro; a son, Tim (Linda) Aldridge of Mattoon; daughters Angela (Larry) Cyphers of Makanda, Londa (Kevin) Peterson of Anna and Bridget (Tim) Flick of Cobden; five grandsons, Tony Aldridge, Justin Aldridge, Joseph Aldridge, Angel Aldridge and James Peterson; two granddaughters, Brianna and Katelyn Flick; great-grandchildren Brooklynn, Athena, Angel Jr. and Serenity, Rayya and Alannah; his mother, Mary Stevens of Rock Falls, Ill.; two brothers, Richard and David Aldridge; three sisters, Joyce Anderson, Ruth Musselman and Rose Cooper; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and a host of friends from all over the United States and other countries. He also leaves his dog, Midnight.
He was preceded in death by his father, Aaron Aldridge; his stepfather, Garnett Stevens; a granddaughter, Alicia Aldridge; a grandson, Steven Ledesma; a brother, Charles Aldridge; and his father and mother-in-law, Rudy and Helen Pacetti.
Funeral services for Pastor Joe were Sunday, Dec. 27, at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, with Pastor Ray Highfield, Pastor Brian Trambley, the Rev. Lester Aldridge and Pastor Perry Williams officiating. Interment followed in Ebenezer Hall Cemetery near Lick Creek.
Both the funeral service and the cemetery committal were live on the Crain Funeral Home Facebook page.
WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT...MATTHEW 25:21
Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.
To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.