Joseph Paul Mcmahan

Joseph Paul McMahan age 49, of Sevierville, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, after a courageous battle with illness. A scientist, teacher, community organizer and naval veteran, Joseph was born in Morristown, Tennessee on August 6, 1960, the oldest child of the late Joseph Lee McMahan and Betty Collins McMahan of Sevierville. Joseph attended Sevier County High School. Having served as a hospital corpsman for the US Navy, Joseph completed his education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (MSc Entomology/Plant Pathology, 1996; BA Economics/Business, 1991). After working in California as a plant pathologist developing disease-resistant strains, Joseph returned to Tennessee in 2001 to commence a teaching career. He worked tirelessly to help organize Sevier County's first parade observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day (2006) before being diagnosed that fall with an extremely rare brain tumor, requiring surgery. Joseph was a member of Boyds Creek Church of God and a former member of Rock of Ages Baptist Church (Morristown). Joe was preceded in death by grandparents Odie and Henrietta McMahan, Paul and Ophelia Collins; father Joseph; and infant sister Ophelia Ann. He leaves to cherish his memory: devoted wife Phyllis McMahan; his loving mother Betty; sons Jermaine Chandler, Isaac McMahan and Joseph Quentin McMahan; granddaughter Zaria Chandler; sisters Lisa Faye McMahan of Knoxville, and Tammy McMahan and brother-in-law Anthony Allison of Las Vegas, NV; sisters-in-law Roslyn Kyle, Breatrice (Dan) Wilkerson of Jefferson City, Tanja Weatherspoon, Carmen Chandler; brothers-in-law Jerry Chandler, Kent (Deanna) Chandler; faithful aunt Lillie in Atlanta, Ga.; uncle Bob and aunt Rosemary of San Jacinto, Calif.; cousins Charles (Diane) Treece of Murfreesboro, Carl (Jackie) Bragg from Morristown; Joseph's church family at Boyds Creek Church of God, and a host of other relatives and friends around the globe. We will forever miss Joe's loving heart, deep faith, warm smile, community spirit and his questing, inquisitive scientist's mind. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (II Timothy 4:7). The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22, with a Celebration of Joseph's life to follow at 7 p.m. in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home, 118 East Main Street, Sevierville, with Elder Zack Flack and Rev. Carl Bragg officiating. Interment will be 11: 00 a.m. Friday, April 23, in New Salem Cemetery, Sevierville, with military honors provided by the American Legion, Post #104. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. www.atchleyfuneralhome.com