Joe Wayne Long

Joe Wayne Long Sr., 78, of Portland, TN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 8:35am at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, TN, with his wife by his side. His battle with serious medical issues in recent years showed his courage in facing life challenges with a smile.

Joe was born on October 2, 1945 in Nashville, TN, to the late Leonard Virgil Long and Minnie Annie Gibson Long. He graduated from Donelson High School in 1964. He was a member of Church of the Nazarene Church in Portland, TN. After more than 25 years, he retired from Vought Aerostructures (formerly Avco), in Nashville, TN in 2008, where he was a Maintenance Machinist and a union steward. He was a lifetime member and actively involved in the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Joe was strong-willed and stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and enjoyed helping others. He was generous, loyal, and brave. He was filled with knowledge from all of his life experiences: mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, and jack-of-all-trades. He was known as the "fix-it" man with family, friends, and neighbors. One of his greatest joys was in helping others.

Joe is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 58 years, Martha Jean Taylor Long of Portland TN; his daughter, Melinda Cornwell of Scottsville, KY; his son, Joe Wayne Long, Jr. of Donelson, TN; by four grandchildren – Kellie Brown Carter of Scottsville, KY, Justin Brown (Jamie) of Woodburn, KY, Jeremy Brown of Scottsville, KY, and Austin LaCroix (Sabrina) of Portland TN; six great grandchildren – Kylie Kitchens (Will), Kendall Pearson (Xander), Mason Brown, Cooper Brown, Morgan Carter, Ellie Brown; and two great great grandchildren – Selma Eaton and Keanu Kitchens; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard Virgil Long and Minnie Annie Long; a brother, L.V. Long, Jr.; a son-in-law, Robbie Cornwell; and daughter-in-law, Sylvia LeCroy.

Funeral services will be at 12pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Old Hickory, TN with Pastor Matt Taylor of Portland Church of the Nazarene officiating. Visitation will be from 10am to 12pm. Following the service, Joe will be laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion at Hermitage Memorial Gardens with Justin Brown, Jeremy Brown, Austin LaCroix, Kevin Denning, Don Lewis, and Don Long serving as pallbearers. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Long family at www.HermitageFH.com.