Joe E. McCart

Joe E. McCart, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home the morning of April 13, 2024, at the age of 82. Born in Bogart, GA in 1941, Joe’s vibrant spirit and magnetic personality touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. Joe was born with a heart condition that he battled all his life. Many did not realize that his zest for living each day to the fullest came with the knowledge that any day could be his last.

Born into a family of sharecroppers, Joe was the 5th of 7 children to Jack R. McCart and Bessie Smarr. Working in the fields as a young teenager, Joe learned the art of hard work and skills needed to perform any thing required to plant and maintain the farming equipment needed to harvest the crops. His family eventually moved to Columbus and Jacksonville, but his heart always remained In Farmington where he had met the love of his life and wife of 63 years, Nancy Middlebrooks McCart. When Nancy had completed her nursing education at Crawford W. Long Nursing School and began her nursing career at Crawford W. Long Hospital, they married and stayed in the big city. Joe found his first big city job in the mailroom of D.L. Stokes Insurance Agency. Since the newly married couple only had one vehicle, Joe would drop Nancy off at the hospital for her shift a couple of hours before his duties started in the mailroom. Using this extra time wisely, Joe began to study the insurance manuals in the office and quickly became an expert on many of the policy needs. Rising through the ranks to become a licensed insurance agent, it was not long before Joe purchased that very agency and founded The Joe McCart Insurance Agency in 1971 with only one other employee, Susie Johnson, who worked tirelessly to support Joe’s vision of building a successful insurance agency. Through the years, his vision became a reality. The McCart Group became an insurance powerhouse with over 150 employees at the time he retired in 2014 when The McCart Group merged into EPIC, a national insurance brokerage firm. As a testament to his leadership, many employees remained at his agency once hired and fondly refer to Joe and Nancy as family to this day.

Even with the success in the corporate world, Joe was the ultimate family man mastering the work-life balance to build strong family relationships. Joe remained involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren until his death. Joe is survived by his devoted Wife of 63 years, Nancy Middlebrooks McCart, of Flowery Branch, GA; their loving children, and spouses that Joe adopted as his own, Kathryn McCart Schrader (Richard) of Duluth, GA, Jeffrey Walter McCart (Shema) of Boca Grande, FL, and Joseph Anthony McCart (Carole) of Hoschton, GA. He was extremely proud that his sons, Jeff and Tony, followed in his footsteps in the insurance industry, and of his daughter who forged her own path in the legal field. He loved spending time with and sharing stories with and was so proud of his grandchildren, Jordan (Hollie) McCart, Gabe Guerra, Russelll Schrader, Joey Schrader, Ashely (Ryan) Economou, Emma Welch and Ryan Welch. He was especially tickled with his great-grandchildren, Jack Perry McCart, Ivy Economou and James McCart. He is also survived by his sister, Annette (Harvey) Mears, brother Larry (Gail) McCart and sister-in-law, Jo Ann Morgan, as well as many nieces and nephews that loved and cherished their Uncle Joe. He leaves behind many friends that became family and traveling companions, Don and Sheila Hancock, and all those in his Seekers Class at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church that have loved and supported him and Nancy, especially over the past several months.

Joe was welcomed in Heaven by his beloved Bella, his parents, Jack R. McCart and Bessie Smarr, along with four of his brothers and sisters, his grandchildren Justin McCart and Katie Schrader whom he loved and cherished dearly, and a multitude of friends that have preceded him in death. We grieve that there is now a huge whole in our hearts and lives temporarily, but we celebrate that he is healed, and that we will see him again because of our faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross!

With a larger-than-life personality, Joe loved celebrations, especially at his lake house, the beach, traveling and food. He cherished the time spent with his family and serving his church and community. Joe was a lifelong Methodist and founding member of Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church in Dacula, Georgia, where he served on many committees, building campaigns and as a morning usher to greet everyone coming to church. Joe was a member of many community boards and led many non-profits in successful fundraising campaigns. Joe is known for his generosity and philanthropy throughout the community, especially supporting church needs and substance abuse treatment facilities, the charities of his choice. Joe and Nancy lead the campaign to begin Lightway Recovery Wellness Center for Women to support women and families struggling with substance abuse and other mental health challenges. They continue to do so today in honor of their granddaughter, Katie, whose life was cut short by fentanyl in 2022.

There will be a time for you to come and share your favorite Joe McCart stories with all of us on Monday, April 15, 2024 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at Wages & Sons Funeral Home, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, Ga. We would also love for you to share your stories in the comments below.

The Celebration of Life will be Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church 1450 Pine Rd, Dacula, GA 30019.

Joe poured out his love and generosity to all who knew him. We honor him by requesting that in lieu of flowers, you consider a donation to one of the following:

Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church at https://hmumc.org for the McCart Seekers Scholarship

OR

Lightway Recovery Wellness Center for Women at https://lightwayrecovery.org/ to help fund the Katie Schrader Memorial Scholarship.