Joseph C. Thompson

The Life of Joseph Casteal "JoJo" Thompson

Joseph's story begins on a cold January morning in 1958, when he was born to Joseph and Annie Thompson and welcomed home by his big sister, JoAnn. From the very start, Joseph was surrounded by love, and that love shaped the man he would become. Though there were years between them, the bond Joseph and JoAnn shared was fierce and unbreakable, a quiet promise that no matter where life carried them, they would always belong to each other.

Joseph was small in stature, but that detail never defined him. If anything, it became part of his legend. He moved through life with a heart that was far larger than his frame and a spirit that refused to be limited. As a boy, he was curious and brave, a Boy Scout who loved learning skills and testing himself against the world. Reminded recently by childhood friend Sherwood, JoJo held the highest batting average in his last year in Little League Baseball. It was 568, a number Sherwood remembers because JoJo beat him for the number one spot. In his youth, he also found brotherhood and identity as a proud member of the Wheels of Soul, where friendship, loyalty, and the freedom of the open road reflected his adventurous spirit.

In high school, Joseph found joy in motion and challenge. He was a star wrestler, one of the smallest on the team, yet one of the strongest holding his own with grit and determination. He played football too, though he was so small that finding cleats to fit him became its own kind of adventure. On the baseball field, he was quick and clever, known for stealing bases, always a step ahead. Summers were spent in the sun and water, where Joseph thrived as a strong swimmer and lifeguard at the Tin Can and Stoney Point, watching over others with the same care that would define his life. This skill resurfaced on a family trip to Wildwood when he jumped in to save Tre who was in water a little too deep, a time Rukiya remembers vividly.

Friendship came easily to JoJo, and once you were his friend, you were his for life. From childhood through adulthood, he built bonds that never faded friendships filled with laughter, loyalty, and shared history. Just ask Ishmayl, Hockey, Commer, Billie, Bobby, Harper, and so many others who walked beside him through the years. These were not just friends; they were brothers of the heart.

JoJo's life has a soundtrack of its own. Funkadelic, the Temptations and even NWA were some of his favorite groups. But he and JoAnn enjoyed going to War concerts, Me and Baby Brother will forever be their song.

As a young man, JoJo spent time in Newark, New Jersey, where his world grew wider and his experiences deeper. He learned, worked, loved, and lived fully there. He became a true jack of all trades, though roofing was where his mastery shined. From South Jersey to North Jersey, "JoJo" was known as the man who could fix just about anything. If you needed help, he showed up no questions asked, no hesitation, just steady hands and a willing heart.

While in North Jersey, Joseph met Sue and stepped into the role of bonus-father to Shekeria. He loved her deeply, and that love only expanded when his daughter Jasmine was born. Being a father changed Joseph in the best way, his already-big heart somehow grew even larger. He poured love into Jasmine, into his nephew RJ, his niece and goddaughter JoEllyn, and every child who came under his care. He would lovingly call his niece Shahida, Chubs.

When Shekeria became a mother to Jahid and Jahlil, Joseph was filled with joy. He cherished time with them, teaching, laughing, and simply being present. Then came his great-niece Arjai, his partner in crime. When he watched her as a baby, he'd joke, "I'm not telling, and she can't talk-so you'll never know what we were up to." That playful bond never faded; it became one of the great joys of his life.

Joseph loved adventure in all its forms. He loved riding rides, chasing thrills, and embracing the excitement of the moment. He loved being surrounded by family, whether it was a big gathering or a quiet moment together. And he loved to cook, especially steak. Cooking was one of the ways he showed love, standing at the grill or stove, making sure everyone was fed, full, and happy.

Later in life, Joseph made his home in the Bronx, carrying his warmth and generosity with him wherever he went. But home always called him back, and eventually he returned to Bridgeton, bringing his stories, his laughter, and his love full circle. In his later years, Joseph found spiritual grounding and fellowship at Shiloh Baptist Church, where his faith and community continued to nourish his generous spirit. At Shiloh, he was an Usher, participated in the Men's Ministry and assisted in repairs of the church.

Nothing brought him greater joy than his grandchildren. After the births of Capri and Daniel Joseph, he could hardly wait to get back to Newark, eager to hold them, spoil them, and love them in the way only JoJo could. Being "Pop-Pop" was not just a title it was a calling he embraced with pride and tenderness.

Joseph's life was not measured by size, titles, or possessions, but by love freely given and deeply felt. He showed up. He fixed things. He cooked meals. He made people laugh. He protected, encouraged, and cared. His heart was big enough to hold family, friends, and everyone lucky enough to know him.

He lives on in the memories and love of his daughter Jasmine Nixon; his granddaughter Capri Harris; his grandsons Daniel Joseph Harris, Jahlil Scantling, and Jahid Jones; great-granddaughter Olivia Jones, his sister JoAnn Thompson Street; his niece/Goddaughter JoEllyn L. Jones, Esq.; his great-niece Arjai Rivera and God-Sons Jamal Harris and Jermey Inniss. He is also lovingly remembered by his brothers/friends Ishmayl Robinson, Billy Chappell, Commer Lee Jenkins Jr., Jerry Mills, Bobby Harris, Gary Harper and a host of other family members, friends, and loved ones.

Joseph was reunited in peace with his parents, Joseph and Annie Thompson, his bonus-daughter Shekeria Jones, his nephew Robert "RJ" Jones, brother-in-law Robert H. Jones Jr and friend Maynard Pierce.

This is not a goodbye, but a continuation because a heart as big as Joseph's never truly leaves. It echoes in laughter, lives on in stories, and remains forever in the love he gave so freely.