Joel Francis Moody Jr.

Joel F. Moody, Jr., 88, passed away on February 22, 2024. He was born April 2, 1935 in Macon, GA to Joel Francis Moody, Sr., and Mary Saunders Moody. His family moved to Raleigh shortly after, and Joe as he was called, spent his childhood in Raleigh. During that time, he had an affinity for different sports and in his grade and middle school years played a lot of tennis and basketball. He graduated from Broughton High School, where he was active on the tennis and football teams.

In 1953, he matriculated at Virginia Military Institute following the path of his father (Joe, Sr.) who was a 1930 graduate. At VMI, he was a strong student and athlete who excelled and lettered multiple years in football and track. In 1956, he served as Captain of the football team and in a rivalry game that same year against the Richmond Spiders, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. For a time, that return was recorded as one of the longest returns in school history.

Upon graduating from VMI in 1957, he served in the Army Reserves for a short time and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. He worked with DuPont in Delaware where he developed a love of traveling, especially to Stowe, VT, to ski, and to New York to attend Broadway musicals.

Deciding on a change of career to education, he started as a math teacher in Fairfax County. Later, he received his Masters in Guidance and Counseling at UNC and a Doctorate in Education from Duke. He was a Guidance Counselor and Director of Guidance at schools in Fairfax, VA. After moving back to Raleigh, he was in administrative roles at several Wake County schools – Enloe High School, East Wake High School, Fuquay-Varina High School, Carrol Middle School and Millbrook High School.

Upon retiring in 1998, Joe devoted much of his time to his church and the YMCA’s Community Hope Mentoring program, as well as, to having fun with his children and grandchildren. He loved planning a trip, good food, lively conversation on many topics, playing golf and games with family and friends, singing in the church choir, and watching football.

Close family and friends have used words such as kind, compassionate, and steady to describe him. He embodied all those qualities and more. His love and devotion to his Lord, family, friends, and church will forever be imprinted in the hearts of those who knew him.

Mr. Moody is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Sue Allen Moody; sons, Joel David Moody, and his wife, Leslie, of Raleigh, Christopher Allen Moody of Cary; grandchildren, Alex, Ethan, Tyson; sister, Mary Lynn Moody of Raleigh; brother, Robert Steven Moody, and his wife, Shirley, of Myrtle Beach, SC; nieces, Tammy and Mandy; as well as several other grand nieces, grand nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service was held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 2:00pm at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 5101 Oak Park Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made by using the links below, under 'Donations', to: St. Giles Presbyterian Church; Transitions LifeCare; or Community Hope Mentoring.

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