Joe D. Nobles

Joe D. Nobles, son of the late Henry and Lula Patrick Nobles, was born on January 21, 1915, in Craven County, North Carolina. He was married to the late Dollie Eleanor Nobles who went home on June, 10 2002.Joe attended public school in New Ben, North Carolina. As a teenager he worked full time on his parents’ farm. In his early twenties he married Dollie Yates and together they worked as sharecroppers. They eventually owned a small farm where they started raising crops and a family. Joe and Dollie attended Queens Chapel Church in North Carolina.Joe and Dollie decided to give up farming and moved to Portsmouth, Virginia. Joe was employed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard as a Pipefitter. In 1948, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where Joe worked as a Candy Maker for the Milkmac Candy Company which was housed in the building that still exists next door to the Shot Tower in downtown Baltimore. In addition, his employer owned and operated the concession stands at Druid Hill Park where Joe and Dollie worked side by side on weekends in the Mansion House. Joe would sometimes work a third job as a baker to provide additional income for his family. After working for Milkmac for over 20 years, Joe retired in 1969. This retirement was short lived as he went on to work with the Baltimore County Board of Education from which he gained a second retirement in 1978.Joe was a devoted husband and father. He was a very strict disciplinarian yet had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to places like Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Jamaica, Bermuda, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. He enjoyed music and pursued musical training at the Waxter Center. He always had a love for instrumental music; therefore, he played piano, organ, and harmonica for his own and family’s enjoyment. Joe was devoted to television and radio ministries for years; and it was only after attending Saint Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church that he decided to join a congregation and dedicate his life to Christ. He was baptized and immediately became involved with church activities. In his Christian walk, Joe read the Holy Bible in its entirety numerous times and he stated that each time he gained additional insight. He worked part-time in St. Timothy’s assisting with building maintenance with his friend, the late Vernon Washington, Sr. When all of the work of the day was completed, Joe took joy in playing hymns on the piano. He served as a member of the Trustee Board and Male Chorus for many years, and received a certificate of ordination as a Deacon on September 16, 1984. He received “The Man of the Year Award” in 1997 from the Saint Timothy’s Christian Men’s Alliance. Joe took the most pride in being a Deacon and served faithfully in this capacity until his health had begun to fail him.Joe D. Nobles departed this life on June 17, 2003. He leaves to cherish his memory: five sons, Marvin Sr., Linwood, Joe Jr., Christopher, all of Maryland, and Erskine of Michigan; two daughters, Emma Clark of Virginia, and Deborah Nobles-McDaniel of Maryland; daughter-in-law, Martha, Sarah, Barbara, Wanda, Mary, Gertrude, and Brenda, all of Maryland; sons-in-law, Milton Clark, Jr., of Virginia and Ervin McDaniel, III, of Maryland; 24 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Wilbur Nobles of New York and Rudolph Nobles of North Carolina; two sisters, Cleopatra Cook of New York and Doris Sumner of North Carolina; four brothers-in-law, Ervin Cook of New York, Hugh Sumner of North Carolina, Larry Yates Sr. and Charles Yates of Maryland; three sisters-in-law, Alfair Nobles of New York, Orabell Nobles of North Carolina, and Verna Sowell of Connecticut; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins; other relatives, friends, and a very devoted niece, Lula West, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Tributes

Joe D. Nobles

January 21, 1915 - June 17, 2003