Joe B. Rev. Zimmerman

RALEIGH - On February 8, 2017, Rev. Joe B. Zimmerman passed gently into the arms of the Lord he worshiped and served all of his life. Many knew Joe B. Zimmerman as their kind and attentive pastor. Many more knew him as their loyal and steadfast friend. A smaller group knew him as their beloved Daddy, Papa and Uncle Joe. But everyone knew him as a man of unyielding faith who lived a life committed to giving rather than taking, lifting up rather than putting down, and welcoming all rather than turning away anyone. Born in Charlotte, NC on June 6, 1927 to Horace and Bertha Bradshaw Zimmerman, Joe grew up in Valdese, NC with small town values that stayed with him all of his life. It was in Valdese where he met the love of his life and his future wife, Virginia Ann Frazier. They were married 59 years. After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, Joe came home, started a beautiful family with Ann, and enrolled in Carson-Newman College. While still a student, he began serving his first church in Concord, TN in 1958. He and his family moved to Wendell, NC in 1960 so that he could attend Wake Forest Theological Seminary. He graduated with his divinity degree in 1963 and went on to serve as the pastor of churches throughout the Triangle area until his retirement in 1989. However, his pastoral work wasn’t done. He continued to serve as interim pastor for churches in need until 2007. Beyond his work as a pastor, Joe was a man of many talents and interests. Some might remember his exploits on the softball field, where he played until he was in his 60s. But many may not know how he took food out each evening to feed a fox that regularly came up or how he spent hours searching for arrowheads in the fields he plowed or how he loved working on and driving the Model A cars he had throughout his adult life. Joe found joy in all that he did and he eagerly shared it with those around him. He is survived by his four children: Allan “Mr. Moon” Zimmerman  (Karen), JoAnn Garner  (Charles ), Lisa Zimmerman  (Susan), and Jan Calloway; his grandchildren: Kelly Aldridge, Taylor Calloway, Luke Lashley-Zimmerman, Amy Zimmerman, Scott Zimmerman, Shane Zimmerman, Scotty Garner, Roxanna Carter and Christy Woolard; 15 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother and sisters. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Friday at Aversboro Road Baptist Church, Garner.  Burial will follow at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery, Wendell.  Having spent his entire life bringing joy, comfort and kindness to so many, Joe will now hear this from the Lord he so faithfully served:  “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)