Joseph "Joe" Samuel Hurtt

Born October 13, 1941 to Hannah Hurtt and Joseph Oakley. Raised by is great-great Aunt, Eva Jefferson until her passing in 1948, he went to live with his mother at the age of 7.

Joseph Samuel Hurtt (affectionately known Joe) attended Bancroft #5, Elbert Primary School and graduated from Wilmington High in 1960.

Bro. Joe began attending the Church of God and Saints of Christ at age 7 and was placed in the choir by the late Elder Harry Dawkins at age 12. Besides his love for church, Bro. Joe loved to sing! On any given Sunday morning, Bro. Joe could be found with his headphones on singing his favorite spirituals. His bass voice was known around the kingdom and was often imitated, but certainly never duplicated. Elder Dawkins assigned him second bass singer in the Wilmington choir and also understudy to the late Bro. Caleb Hurtt as a Shepherd Boy. He was appointed an official Shepherd Boy by the late Elder Samuel McCollum in the late 1970’s, a position he held with great pride and dignity. Bro. Joe could always be found in uniform and at his post on time. Under the pastorship of Elder John Prince Walker, the positions of Head Bass and Head Shepherd were bestowed upon him.

In his teenage years, under the care of Elder Woody, he solicited with Chief Rabbi Phillip E. McNeil, Dea. Andrew Heidleberg, Bro. Ronnie Stewart, St. Corina Surdifin, St. Sarah Holloman, St. Rebecca Mason and his cousin, Bro. Gilbert Hurtt, just to name a few. He was later drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served 1968 and received an honorable discharge.

Employed by Container Corporation of America for 35 years, being a school bus driver with M & K Bus Company and Laidlaw School Bus Company, Bro. Joe was later contracted by the State of Delaware in 1992, where he was a certified CDL bus driver trainer he was physically no longer able to work.

Bro. Joe sang in the community YMCA choir with his cousins Frances Chambers and Lucretia Hill. He played the drums for a short while in middle school and sang in the school choir. He sang bass with the famed Golden Harps comprised of (Bro. Nathaniel Hurtt, Sr., Bro. Gilbert Hurtt, Dea. William Hurtt and in later years, Bro. Robert Hurtt joined the group. In the early 1970’s, Rabbi Howard Z. Plummer heard them sing, “Go Down Moses” at an affair and invited them to attend and sing at the Passover as his guests, all expenses paid! During this Passover where Bro. Joe sang, Go Down Moses”.

During the 1978 Passover, his name was entered in an all bass singers’ contest by St. Ruth Roberts. Bro. Joe competed against Bro. Jethro Martin and was voted the best bass singer and was awarded a trophy. As the senior-most member of the Wilmington choir, Bro. Joe lent his voice, his numerous stories from the past, and his wisdom to the singers. He was a role model of dedication, dignity and love.

He leaves to cherish his memory of life, his wife, Iris Hurtt; 4 sons - Steve Brown - deceased (Francis); Frankie Clayton; Eric Hurtt (Wanda) of Cahokia, IL; Elder Timothy T. Hurtt, I (Erica) of Wilmington, DE; 3 daughters - Josetta Williams of Washington, DC; Roslyn Johnson of Richmond, VA; Judith Hurtt of Harrisburg, PA; 1 stepson - Arnold Saunders, Jr., 2 step daughters - Jacqueline Blair (Robert) of Bear, DE; Victoria Tucker of Newark, DE; 1 stepson - Arnold Saunders, Jr. (Janet) of New Castle, DE; 2 brothers - Preston Ricks, Sr. of Portsmouth, VA; Bernard Hurtt of Wilmington, DE; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.

Service will be held Sunday February 24, 2019 at 11am. Viewing 10-11 am, Church of God and Saints of Christ, 602-12 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Interment, Delaware Veterans Cemetery