Joe Ben Thackston

Joe Ben Thackston Sr., 88 years young of Lilburn, Georgia, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2022.

Hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Joe Sr. was the son of Annie and Will Thackston who have both preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Price Thackston; His son and daughter-in-law, Joe Ben Thackston Jr. and Shirley Cooley Thackston; His grand-daughter, Tess Thackston. Joe Thackston Sr. served in the military as a Corporal in the US Army from 1955 until 1957. He then worked in management for the Kmart Corporation, traveling the South, and Southeast, before settling in Lilburn, Georgia, where he retired. He was a southern gentleman with a plethora of hobbies. From collecting Gone with the Wind memorabilia to his love of old music. From his books lining the walls of his library to the movies lining the walls of his closet. Joe Sr. was a passionate man filled with knowledge and a wonderful sense of humor. He always had a smile on his face, and a cackle that would spread to everyone around him. Hardy and loud, it didn’t matter. He would laugh from his soul.

Betty and Joe Sr. were beloved soulmates. Throughout their lives they were partners. Through the good and the bad. Through the times you can barely be near the other and the times you can’t stand to be apart. They had a love without end, and created a small family with their son, Joe Jr., bonding through the outdoors and John Wayne movies. Joe Sr. and Jr. were rowdy boys together as they moved through life and the similarities kept coming. Then came a grand-daughter, Tess Thackston. A light in Joe Sr.’s life and he doted on her, bonding through the love of musicals and books. His family loved him, and he loved his family. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a father, a grand-father, and a friend to all. He paid attention to what you loved and went above and beyond for those he cared about. He’d have your tv show on when you visited, he took you to your favorite library, he offered you sweet tea and pizza because he knew it was your favorite, and he snuck you sweets during the huge family Thanksgiving that he and Betty would host.

Joe Thackston Sr. will be terribly missed, but we will cherish his memory, and look forward to a wonderful reunion in Heaven when we will meet again.

The family will be hosting a grave side service on Wednesday, June 8^th, 2022 starting at 2pm EST at Gwinnett Memorial Park, 925 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.