Joe Parham Tarpley

Joe Parham Tarpley passed away at home on May 7, 2025 following two falls, the recovery from which was away from home for a number of months and complicated by advancing Parkinson’s disease as well as pulmonary challenges.  We are thankful that his passing was mercifully peaceful and at home where he longed to be reunited with his beloved wife Martha.

Joe, the younger of two sons of John Harry Tarpley, a U.S. Army Air Corps Master Sergeant, and Rosa Parham Tarpley, a career educator, lived in multiple locations as a young boy. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and with his brother William “Bill” Tarpley, he moved with their parents to Greenville, South Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Buckhead, Georgia; and Athens, Georgia.  He graduated from University Demonstration High School in Athens along with 30 classmates, including his future wife Martha Belle Collier, who was an acquaintance at the time.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy for which he served four years, being primarily stationed in Alaska.

While on leave during the summer of 1956, he saw dear Martha at Athens’s famed Legion Pool.  She became his betrothed, and they married in Athens in August 1960, honeymooned in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and returned to Athens where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Georgia in 1962.  Upon graduating, he began his career as an agent of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.  His career spanned 34 years, beginning with months of training in West Palm Beach, Florida, followed by working in offices in Georgia including initial years in Columbus and LaGrange before working the majority of his career in Atlanta after settling in Stone Mountain where he and Martha have remained.  On the whole, he enjoyed his work as an auditor of individuals and small businesses in the early years of his career and of larger businesses and corporations later on.  He retired from his profession in 1996 and savored to a greater degree his lifelong treasured passion for radio-controlled model airplanes, some gardening, and day trips with Martha visiting family and friends, seeing the mountains, and having a day at a craft show.  Mostly though, Joe was fond of simple pleasures at home—a cup of coffee, the newspaper, a good laugh, legal thrillers and mystery books, home-cooking, grilling, skillfully cooked bar-b-que, and bread of nearly every kind and for sure good Southern cornbread.  He also enjoyed the holidays—especially Christmastime—with his family, clever TV shows, action-packed movies, country and bluegrass music, calls from his children, University of Georgia sports, and most of all, his easy companionship with Martha.

Because his unspoken but obvious priority was his family, his children knew little about his work.  He however was well-known for his quiet nature, patient listening, kind and calm spirit, and for his firm grip on integrity, honesty, decency, earnest work ethic, and dedication to providing for his family.  He was always willing to help. He was sacrificial by nature.  He could and wanted to fix almost anything, except for a busted Stretch Armstrong.  He supported his children’s pursuits of various interests and developing talents.  He was present at any activity of theirs he could get to.  Most importantly, with Martha, he put their children in the best position to make their own personal decisions regarding Christian faith by having them in Sunday school and church service each Sunday morning, supporting their involvement in meaningful church activities, and trying to have a household holding onto Christian principles the rest of the week.

Joe is survived by his devoted wife Martha of nearly 65 years and their children (and their spouses):  John (Melaney), Frances Braswell (Harold), Sarah Massey (Tim), and Heather. 

His family sincerely thanks all doctors, nurses, physical therapists, technicians, and assistants in multiple areas of medicine and surgery who over the course of years lent him their expertise, compassion, patience, and sincere care.  By their hands we believe our Lord gracefully gave him more time with Martha, and to her and the rest of his family more time with him on earth.

Joe’s family is having a celebration of his life officiated by Chaplain Sheldon Green at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday May 10th at the McCommons Funeral Home Chapel, 109 W. Broad Street, Greensboro, 30642.  There will be a receiving of friends also in the chapel starting at 11 a.m..  A graveside service at Greenview Cemetery on Memorial Drive nearby will follow the celebration of his life.  McCommons Funeral Home ((706) 453-2626) is assisting with arrangements.  Please visit www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Joe and his brother Bill, who suffered a severe brain injury as a senior in high school, can go to the Shepherd Center (2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309), or a church ministry of your choosing. 

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