Joseph Strong

On a beautiful fall day, November 21, 1942, a handsome son was born to Primous and Lorena Strong in Bay Springs, MS.  At three years old, Joseph and his family moved to Joliet, IL.  He attended McKinley Park Elementary School, Washington Jr. High School and Joliet Central High School.  For higher education goals, Joseph attended Joliet Junior College and Illinois Institute of Technology.  He had excellent work ethics; for a short time, he worked at Johns Manville and ComEd, but at age 21, he went to work for Caterpillar and worked there for 40 years.  He also has worked a photographer owning Joe Strong Studio.  

At an early age, he joined Second Baptist Church where he served in the choir and attended BYF.  He has been a member of Second Baptist for 60 years and was also a dedicated attendee of Sunday School.  Joseph was active in the Joliet community and belonged to a bicycle club where he rode across the country.  He also was a dedicated member of the NAACP and was active in politics.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Primous and Lorena Strong; one brother, Clarence Strong; brother-in-law, Elgin Thompson and mother of his children, Julia (Jenkins) Strong.

He departed this life on February 18, 2021 in Joliet, Illinois.

He leaves to cherish his memories; his wife, Helena Strong; loving children, Vivian Strong, Elgin, IL, Richard Strong, South Bend, IN, devoted daughter, Jeanette Strong, Phillip Strong and stepson, Clay Lurry; grandchildren, Steven and Tiffany Seabron; great granddaughter, Makayla Barnes; brother, Jerry Strong, Anchorage, Alaska; sister, Mary (Elgin, deceased) Thompson, Joliet, IL; brothers-in-law, Dennis (Nancy) Lurry, Johnnie (Vera) Sneed, Ricky (Andrea) Lurry, Colliarn (Sheree) Sneed, Rocky (Carolyn) Lurry, Darrell Sneed and Denay Lurry; sisters-in-law, Louise Lurry, Dorothy Mae Blackmon, Shirlie Jean (Vincent) Rodgers, Jane Daniel, Shirlie Ann King, Rennetta Alexander, Felicia Hinton and Minerva Sneed; five grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; nephews, Elgin Thompson Jr., Manhattan, NY, Brian Thompson, Channahon, IL, Michael Thompson, Chicago, IL and a host of other relatives and friends.

Special thanks to Tanisha Davis and children.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Strong, please visit our floral store.