Joseph Edward Bethune, 80, of Enville passed away Jan. 30, 2023, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Funeral services were 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue with Darren Martin, William Duke and Welvon Mayo officiating. Burial followed at Grove Springs Cemetery. The family received friends at Crook Avenue from 5-8 p.m. on Friday.
He was born Jan. 21, 1943, in Chester County, near Jacks Creek, the son of the late Kenneth Young and Vena Maxine Beecham Bethune. He graduated from Chester County High School in 1961. He married Brenda Perkins in Oct. 1963. They made their home in the Enville Community all of their married life where Mr. Bethune farmed. He worked a few years at Salant & Salant Mfg. and Brown Shoe Company and owned and operated Bethune Farms, farming in four surrounding counties.
He was a member and president of Chester County Farm Bureau and had served on the Soil Conservation Board and the Farmer’s Co-op Board.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren and loved spending time with his great grandchildren. He was a member of the Decaturville Pentecostal Church in Decaturville.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Joyce Perkins Bethune of Enville; one son, Bobby Edward (Tina) Bethune of Enville; a daughter, Renee (Bryan) Smith of Sardis; one brother, Jackey (Tammy) Bethune of Enville; a sister, Louise Hudson of Enville; four grandchildren, Kelly (Jeff) Alexander, Jamie (Jessica) Bethune, Brittany (Josh) Bryant and Rachel (Hunter) Gibson; nine great-grandchildren, Case and Kenzie Alexander, Peyton, Piper, Parker and Edward Bethune, Elena Bryant and Archer and Brooks Gibson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lee Bethune.
