Joseph Martin (Joe) Kennedy, 82 of Newton passed away March 17, 2023. Never afraid of leaving this world for his Heavenly home only for leaving the ones he treasured the most. Only moments after asking to hold the hand of his Love with assurance she would be ok, he drifted peacefully into eternal rest.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until noon on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Liberty Baptist Church in Newton, Mississippi with funeral services immediately following. Burial will be at Liberty Cemetery.

Joe was a servant of God and his service was in Liberty Baptist Church where he served as deacon, treasurer, and a member of the Liberty Mission Team.

After graduating from Newton High School in 1958, Joe's further education began at Milsaps. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He would later graduate from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in business. Joe was a member of the National Guard receiving honorable discharge. He would make his career in Consumer Finance starting to work for Nash Finance in Greenville, South Carolina. Years later Joe was headed back to Mississippi to work for Tower Loan, now First Tower Corp and subsidiaries. With a hard work ethic, patience, and a dedicated determination he worked his way from Office Manager to Supervisor then to Director of Operations for one of Mississippi's largest finance companies.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Lee Roy and Ruby Jean McGee Kennedy; grandparents, Dr. T.Q. and Melissa McGee and J.M. and Irma Kennedy; two brothers-in-law, D.P. Warring, Jr. of Vicksburg, MS and Randy Braswell of Ethel, MS.

Surviving him is the love of his life, Pam Kennedy; first to call him "Daddy", Joseph Martin "Jody" Kennedy II (Kelly); his son, Martin Strawbridge (Brooke), a cherished sister, Lee Kennedy Waring. Three beautiful granddaughters, Katherine Myers Kennedy, Kinsley Cole Strawbridge, and Mae Mobly McDonald. Nephew, Mart Windham (Jonna); great-nephews, Wes Windham (Halie), Blake Windham (Savannah), and Drew Windham. Sisters-in-law, Pam Braswell, Peggy Willis, (Sonny), Linda Braisher (Bones), Deborah Reece; brother-in-law, Law Coleman Sanders (Jill); numerous cousins and special friends he held so dear. His beloved CoCo and Josephine.
Serving as pallbearers: Rocky Godwin, Jimmy Garrison, Henry Sibley, Jeff Walker, Wiley Walker, and Johnny Baucum. Honorary pallbearers: Stan Kline, Larry Gressett, Chuck Kellum, Rocky Joe Godwin, Brian Sibley, and Mark Shivers.