Joe B. Dawson Jr.

1953 - 2020

Joe B. Dawson, Jr. (Junior), fell asleep in death on Friday December 18, 2020, at the Medstar Montgomery Medical Center, in Olney, Maryland-after battling health and neurological complications for the past year. Joe was peaceful and surrounded by his loving wife and two-daughters. Joe was a devoted husband and father, and admired by many, for his kind, warm, and graceful demeanor. Joe was a great, courageous, and driven man, who pursued success and happiness with a passion and never gave up, no matter the obstacles he encountered along the way. To him, failure was not an option, and he lived life, with a purpose. He loved life and his family.
Joe was born in Denison, Texas, on October 5, 1953, the son of Joe B. Dawson, Sr., and Loretta Stephenson. Joe is survived by his wife: Yenny; daughters: Alexius and Savannah; mother: Loretta, brothers and sisters: Retta, Tommy, Zumar, Elnora, Martha, Cynthia, Patricia, Etta, Daphnia, Willie, Irma, Lucy, Terry; many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
In August 1978, Joe graduated from Texas A & M, in Commerce, Texas-earning a Bachelor's degree in Health Administration and Finance; and in December of 1988 earned his Master's degree in Public Health Administration, from the University of Louisville Kentucky. Joe was also commissioned as an Officer, in the US Army and served for thirteen years as a Battalion Commander and a Hospital Administrator, in the Army Medical Corp. In March 1994, he completed the Nursing Home Administrator's Internship Program, in San Antonio, Texas, which afforded him the opportunity to work as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (Licensed in Maryland, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, and Indiana), for the last twenty-three years. Once again, Joe was passionate about working in the Senior Living and Long-Term Care industry and became known and highly respected as a Turn-Around-Specialist, for his dedication to quality care, and effective leadership and management of these facilities. Joe was also a relentless business entrepreneur at heart and owned and managed several businesses throughout his lifetime.
Truly, a successful Warrior, yet humble at heart; as he often reminisced about working at "Ringler's (an upscale ladies clothing boutique) in his hometown Denison, Texas-while a teenager in high school. He cherished this experience, because it reminded him of the simplicity of life and his humble beginnings-and never forgot where he came from.
Joe met his wife Yenny, in August of 1998, and were married for eighteen years and together, became a resilient and powerful couple that, loved and supported one another unconditionally. Also, during his life with his family, Joe enjoyed many triumphs, created wonderful-life-lasting-memories, proudly and tirelessly traveled, and worked across the country to support his family, and was simply happy and determined to be the best Husband, Father, and an unrelenting Provider. Joe was our Hero, our Superman, and Best-friend. We (Alexius, Savannah, Yenny, and Scarlet) will miss him dearly. And many others, who had the privilege of knowing him, will remember him for his gregarious, personable, intellectual-yet humble, and generous spirit, and most of all, for his beautiful-larger-than-life, "Smile".
As one of Jehovah's Witnesses (Baptized on August 13, 2005), Joe believed in the resurrection hope, as described in the Bible in: John 5:28, 29 and Revelation 21:3, 4, which in part says: "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." With this said, we long and pray for the day, when we will see our amazing Joe again, soon.
A Memorial Service honoring Joe's life, will be held via Zoom on 1/16/2020 at 6:00 PM EST. Family and close friends will be contacted with login information.