Long-serving Logan Countian Brother Joe Carrico passed away the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. Brother Joe was loved and adored by many within and out of the community. His life serves as a reminder that one person can make a difference in the world we live in through caring for others.
Brother Joe has been involved in countless charitable efforts over the years in Logan County which include Toys For Tots, the Carrico Center, and assisting veterans and their families, as well as the citizens of Logan County. From collecting toys, bicycles, food and clothing for the underprivileged, to flying in an Army helicopter delivering medicine and coal to the stranded during ice and snow storms, Brother Joe has given of himself countless times out of the kindness of his heart.
Brother Jo retired as the pastor at Post Oak Baptist Church after serving for 40 years. Six years ago, the city of Russellville passed a resolution naming the town’s square after Carrico saying that great cities contain city squares named after important, or philanthropic, or religious, or historically significant persons and the City Council and Mayor have the privilege of knowing only one person residing in the great City of Russellville who is all of these things.
The resolution went on to point out that Carrico was very important. It stated that he was philanthropic; he was religious; and he had contributed more to the history of the City of Russellville in the past 50 years than would seem humanly possible. The resolution stated that Brother Joe Carrico, our friend, our mentor, our spiritual leader and our philanthropist through gifts from his labor of love, needs to be, and he shall be, honored in the City of Russellville, and for his name to be remembered by the generations to come. It is fit and proper for a name to be given to Park Square, and it therefore shall, from this day forward, be known as “Carrico Park Square,” in honor of Brother Joe Carrico.
Former Russellville Mayor Shirlee Yassney, who knew Brother Joe very well, said he has been invaluable to our community.
“We were all expecting it, but it was a big shock,” said Yassney on Brother Joe’s death. He had been sick for awhile. “He has always been available for any help we needed. My family and I have always had him as part of our lives. Heavens gain, but certainly our loss.”
The former mayor says Brother Joe was there whenever anyone in the community needed him.
“I remember the winter storm of 1978-79, how he convinced Fort Campbell we needed medical help in Logan County. He had so much influence in Frankfort and Washington as well. Every time I went to Frankfort he was asked about, people knew him well. He was a humble person, but carried great weight in getting things done for our community. He had the military in the upper most of his mind. It’s such a loss. He was just part of us all and our lives,” Yassney said.
More on the life of Brother Joe Carrico in an up and coming edition of the News-Democrat & Leader.
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