Joseph Penn Wilkerson, 79, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, passed away peacefully at his residence on June 4, 2012. He was the son of Junius Samuel Wilkerson and Esther Brown Cooke Wilkerson. He was born in Tappahannock, Virginia on April 27, 1933.

Joe lived a life guided by the core values of the love of God, love of his family, love of his country and love for his fellow man. He proudly served his country during the Korean War as an Army paratrooper. He moved to Southern Maryland during the early 1960s and began his career as an Operating Engineer in Local 77. He was also a gentleman barber where he enjoyed sharing stories and all the local news at his shop in Charlotte Hall.

Joe built his own home in Golden Beach where he raised a large family of sons and daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching them the true meaning of honor, hard work and what was most important in life. He served as deacon then later as Pastor bringing spiritual guidance and love to many through his example much more than mere words.

He had a lifelong love of softball which began in high school and continued as he played first baseman and catcher in the local rocking chair league. Later he coached little league instilling sportsmanship and love of the game into our area youth. Joe loved to work the land on his old red tractor and share the harvest with his family and friends. He provided a weekly community outreach to feed the poor. He loved the Lord and loved his family with all his might. He will be remembered as a man who gave his all to make the lives of everyone he came into contact with blessed to have known him.

Joe is predeceased by his brother William (Billy) Wilkerson, brother Charles G. Wilkerson, sister Alice May Cunningham and his daughter Sheila Faye Wilkerson Beadle.

Survived by loving wife Shirley Ann Wilkerson and his children: Joseph P. Wilkerson, Jr. (Donna), William G. Wilkerson, (Joyce), Barbara A. Bennett, Dorinda L. Hughes, Melissa G. Wilkerson, Corey S. Wilkerson, (Erin), Jaime L. Wilkerson, (Sharon) and William G. Beadle, III (Jennifer). Joe has 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Also survived by his siblings Myrna L. Schneider, Allan Venning and Sherry Putnam.

Family will receive friends for Joseph's Life Celebration on June 8, 2012, from 5:00pm through 7:45pm with Prayers at 8:00pm at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.

There will be a service on June 9, 2012, at 10:00am at Brinsfield-Echols. Interment will immediately follow to Trinity Memorial Gardens, 3221 Mattawoman-Beantown Road, Waldorf, MD 20604.

All are invited to share in a time of fellowship with the family after the interment at The River Church in Hughesville, Maryland.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.