OBITUARIES

“Nothing comes easy that is good for you. We all cannot be gifted athletes or superstars, so
whatever abilities you have, be the best you can be, but be proud.”—Joe Mack

Joseph “Joe Mack” Johnson was born in Pike County, Alabama on July 25, 1933, to J.P. and Ruthie
Mae Johnson. As the second child of ten brothers and sisters, he came from humble beginnings delivering milk for Hollis Dairy to help support the family. With the help of his aunt, he learned the importance of education and developed a passion for cooking prior to migrating to Poughkeepsie at age 17. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952 and went to cooking school, earning him his GED and a coveted position as a Captain’s cook. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he studied at SUNY New Paltz to learn vocational/technical education in food service.

Joseph met the love of his life, Esther Meredith in 1954 while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Excited
to start their new lives together, the two were married in March 1955 and later welcomed two beloved daughters, Carolyn and Josette. Both husband and wife were armed with faith, pride, and determination to ascend from their humble beginnings to provide the best life for their children.

Joseph is the exemplar of working from the bottom to the top. After an honorable discharge from
the Navy in 1955, he started his career in food services as a dishwasher and retired as a food service instructor of “Theory, Practical Application, and Business Management” at the Hudson River
Psychiatric Center. His 37-year career culminated in many achievements, such as becoming the first
black American to work with the New York State Bureau of Nutritional Services. He worked in all phases of food service—head cook, recipe developer, food consultant, food handling, and sanitation- but
attributed teaching to his favorite role.

He is best known as the founder of the renowned Joe’s Barbeque House Restaurant, serving the
Poughkeepsie community from 1966 until his retirement in 1988. Throughout the years, Joe’s
Barbeque became a neighborhood pillar, with Joe Mack at the head serving encouragement,
leadership, inspiration, mentorship, and the best-chopped barbeque in the Hudson Valley. The
popular Main Street staple created jobs for inner-city youth and broke through racial barriers by simply providing lunches and dinners that fed the soul. Even after retirement, you could find Joe Mack at Joe’s Roadside Fish Fry or delivering pies and sweet treats to Adam’s Fairacre Farms.

Joseph had a long history of community involvement. He was president of the LEO Club and an active member of the Couples Club and the YMCA. He served on boards for the Catherine Street
Community Center and the Hudson River Psychiatric Center Credit Union. He was an active member
of Beulah Baptist Church, serving as the Director of the Culinary Ministry and member of the Board
of Trustees, Men’s Ministry, and the Building & Grounds Committee. He proudly operated as head
cook for Annual Community Church Picnics and church-sponsored Soup Kitchens, serving thousands
of individuals over the years. In his prime, it was widely known that anything that came from the
Beulah Baptist Kitchen came through Joe Mack.

Though he loved serving the community, he treasured spending his time with his family and loved
being a grandfather (aka Pop Pop), teaching his four grandchildren how to swim, fish, and count
change correctly when helping him with his popular fish stand every summer. His ability to cultivate
relationships earned him the love and admiration beyond the Johnson family, as he gained a “bonus”
daughters, sons, nieces, and nephews who graciously provided support during his golden years.

His life’s motivation was to take care of his family, also referred to as his “girls.” Along with abundantly taking care of his family, he built a legacy in which his family and his community can aspire to. His God-given abilities centered around service to others, which allowed him to be the best husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, mentor, provider, and supporter anyone could ask for. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Joseph leaves his devoted wife of 69 years, Esther Johnson; daughter Carolyn Gilbert, Bowie, MD;
daughter Josette (Wayne) Brooks, Fort Washington, MD; granddaughter Cherelle Gilbert, Upper
Marlboro, MD; grandson Cameron (Lauren) Gilbert, Upper Marlboro, MD; grandson Ryan Brooks,
Fort Washington, MD; grandson Devin Brooks, Fort Washington, MD; and one great-granddaughter,
Ava Gilbert, is regarded as the next movie star in his eyes. He leaves sister Doris Johnson, Poughkeepsie, NY; sister Peggy Johnson, Poughkeepsie, NY; sister-in-law Elnora Johnson, Forestville, MD; sister-in-law Elizabeth (Willard) Tinsley, Troy, NY; brother-in-law, Sylvester Meredith, Capital Heights, MD; and brother-in-law Isaac Meredith, Fort Washington, MD. Along with a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives, he leaves beloved nephews Kanell, Kenny, and Randy, and “bonus” daughters Mittie, Charlene, Darlene, and Tiffany. He also leaves lifelong friends, Robert “Bucky” Freeman, George Johnson, and his “half nurse” Mae Henriques.

He was predeceased by his parents, JP and Ruthie Mae Johnson; and seven siblings, Robert, Bettie Jean, James Edward, Columbus, Curtis, Jeanette, and Annie Ruth.