Joseph William Hendricks

1988 - 2021

Hendricks, Joseph William

December 16, 1988 - October 23, 2021

On October 23, 2021, our beautiful son, brother, and uncle, Joseph William Hendricks, lost his battle with addiction. He was 32 years old. Addiction is a mental illness. No one plans to be an addict. When he was a child, Joseph was cherished and loved so deeply. He had so much potential, and yet, he still lost this battle. Addiction does NOT discriminate. All it takes to get hooked is one time. From that moment on, you are playing a game of Russian roulette. This is what happened to our Joseph. Joseph was an old soul and was wiser than most. He had an interesting sense of humor and always knew how to make his sisters laugh. He was smart, sensitive, charming, loving, and kind. He could fix or rig anything. He had a passion for music. When he was younger, you could hear him from a mile away. The thumping would rattle your chest. He introduced us to some very interesting music along the way. He self-taught himself to play the guitar and as of late to play the piano. His recent music was breathtaking. During his middle school years, he began experimenting with drugs. We aren't sure when he started abusing drugs. Our entire family did everything in our power to help him overcome these demons, including two very special people who took Joseph in and became his "adoptive grandparents," Edgar and Beverly Miller. The Millers taught Joseph about farming and brought him back to church, where he wanted to be baptized this spring. Joseph was able to get sober many times, but it was not what Joseph wanted. His addiction won. The day Joseph died, a piece of us died too. His death is intolerable. The only bit of peace we have is knowing that he is free from the bond of addiction. If Joseph's story helps one person, his death will not be in vain. Joseph is preceded in death by his paternal grandpa and best friend, James Joseph Hendricks Jr., his maternal grandparents, Robert and Aileen Suich, his aunts, Jill Anne Hendricks and Karen Suich, and his cousin, Conor Thomas Hendricks. During his longest stretch of sobriety, Joseph met the love of his life, Morgan York, and although they had to go their separate ways, he never lost the love he had for her. Joseph leaves behind many friends and family members, including his parents, Janet and James Blair, James and Kris (Arbor) Hendricks, his paternal grandmother, Linda (Ken) Geer, his sisters, Megan (Timothy) Callaghan, Jaclyn Hendricks, Lena Hendricks, Savannah Blair, his brothers, Klinton (Courtney) Blair and Kyle Blair. His Godfather and uncle, Timothy (Julie) Hendricks, special aunt, Carol Suich, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He leaves behind his three best pals who thought he was the coolest uncle ever, his niece, Carolyn Callaghan and nephews, Luca Hendricks and Declan Callaghan. Joseph, you are so loved, and we hope that you've found the peace you so desperately looked for while on Earth. There will be a celebration of Joseph's life on Monday, November 1, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, located at 4265 Ebert Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127. Our family would like to give a special thanks to all who tried to help Joseph at Samaritan Ministries and Bethel Colony. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to Bethel Colony of Mercy, Inc., 1675 Bethel Colony Rd., Lenoir, NC 28645 or to his niece and nephews. Condolences may be made online at www.salemfh.com.

Salem Funeral & Cremation Service

120 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101