The much beloved Rev. Joseph Braxton Wynns, 94, of Columbia, NC passed away of
natural causes Monday March 11, 2024. Known to many as "Papa Joe", Mr. Wynns
served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and in both the Korean and Vietnam
Wars before leaving the service to answer God's call to the Christian ministry. He was
quick to offer a smile, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or whatever else a person
needed to show them he loved them, and more importantly, God loved them.

Born November 23, 1929, in Powellsville, NC to millwright James Braxton Wynns and
Annie Norvell Wynns just as the Great Depression started, Papa Joe was known to
regale family and friends with happy stories of the mischief he and his brothers, Adrian
and Larry, would get in to. Despite the hardships of the times, his childhood
reminiscences of running through swamps to train the sheriff department's
bloodhounds, boxing with a neighborhood bully, afternoons spent at the matinee, and
moonlit double dates with high school sweethearts never ceased to be a delight despite
multiple tellings.

His happiest stories usually involved the late Evelyn Overton Wynns, the
love of his life and wife of 56 years. The prettiest girl in town and star of the high school
basketball team, Papa Joe never ceased to credit her for her support during his many
base transfers, overseas deployments, and constant pastoral duties. Together they
created a loving and supportive home for their five children.

As a child, Mr. Wynns had dreamed of being a radio or movie star. He had a lifelong
love and encyclopedic knowledge of the stars and films of Hollywood's golden era with
a special fondness for Westerns. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1950 and
eventually achieved the rank of Master Sergeant specializing in aircraft maintenance.
While Mr. Wynns was on a troop ship headed for a year-long deployment in the Korean
War he committed his life to Christ.

After leaving the military, Mr. Wynns attended Chowan Jr. College and Campbell
College and earned a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary. His ministerial career spanned six decades and multiple congregations
throughout Northeastern North Carolina where he officiated baptisms, weddings, and
funerals for multiple generations of families, including his own. In addition to his full
time pastorates at Cool Spring Baptist Church in Eure, Eureka Baptist Church in
Corapeake, Columbia Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia and Soundside
Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, Mr. Wynns often served as the interim pastor
for churches in need. For over 30 years Mr. Wynns led a monthly service at Frying Pan
Free Will Baptist Church and for many years served as chaplain to the Tyrrell County
Volunteer Fire Department. Never one to believe a pastor's job stopped at the pulpit, Mr.
Wynns spent countless hours with those who needed him at their homes, in potato
fields, in hospitals and over a cup of coffee in his own kitchen. If a person needed a ride
or simply a companion to a doctor 's appointment he was known to happily oblige if
called. He was well into his eighties when he begrudgingly agreed to stop climbing on
roofs to fix a shingle that needed fixing.

In his later years, Mr. Wynns enjoyed meals and fellowship at The Crossing, a local
restaurant in Columbia which he visited on a near daily basis. He was quick to share a
story, a joke, or one his patented "Have a Great Day Permit" cards which he always
handed out with a smile.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Overton Wynns, his parents James
Braxton Wynns and Annie Norvell Wynns, and brothers Adrian Shaw Wynns and Larry
Norvell Wynns. He is survived by children Joe Wynns Jr. and wife Bobbie Jean of Buies
Creek, NC; Luanne Lentz of Kernersville, NC; Claudia Michelle "Miki" Wynns of
Winston-Salem, NC; Michael Wynns and wife Samantha of Fort Lauderdale, FL and
Mark Wynns and wife Jaime of Atlanta, GA. He's also survived by eight grandchildren,
six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A public visitation will be held from 6:00pm-8:00pm Thursday, March 21 and a public
memorial service will be held at 2:00pm Friday, March 22, both at Soundside Missionary
Baptist Church located at 2607 Sound Side Rd, Columbia, NC 27925. A private
graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Mr. Wynns be made to
Cameron Boy's Camp ( https://www.cameronboyscamp.org/) .

Online condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net

Walker Funeral Home, Windsor is honored to serve the Wynns family.