Joseph Bryan McLeod

Joseph Bryan McLeod, known to his childhood friends as “Joby” and later “Joe,” passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 9, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the age of 69 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Joby was born on May 22, 1957, in Athens, Georgia, to Larry and Ann Joye McLeod. He had a wonderful childhood in Athens alongside his sister, Crysty. Some of his fondest memories were made during summers spent at Pawleys Island, staying at the beloved Tip Top Inn — the start of a lifelong love of the coast.

Joby graduated from Clarke Central High School in Athens where he played on the tennis team, before attending the University of Georgia for both his undergraduate degree and master’s degree in accounting. He remained a devoted Georgia Bulldog for the rest of his life.

Joby met his high school sweetheart and later wife, Lynn Donaldson on a double date. The two originally went on the date with other people and ended up switching dates by the end of the evening. They married on August 2, 1980, and just recently celebrated their 46th anniversary. Together they built a life filled with partnership, warmth, and deep mutual love.

Joby had a long and successful career in federal and state tax planning, serving a diverse client base across manufacturing and wholesale, pharmaceuticals, construction, real estate development, and professional services — including clients inbound and outbound from Canada, the U.K., South Africa, and much of the European Union. He spent 13 years with two international accounting firms before founding a Raleigh-based firm later acquired by Cherry Bekaert in 2000. After nearly 20 years as the Tax Partner for Cherry Bekaert’s MidCarolina’s practice and just before retirement, he was honored with Cherry Bekaert’s Ray Quintin Uncompromising Integrity Award, a fitting tribute to a career defined by ethics and professionalism.

Joby gave generously of his time to his community. He served on the Board of Advisors for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Wake County Estate Planning Council, and the Finance Committee of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. He was President of the local University of Georgia Bulldog Club and a member of United Methodist Men. However, most dear to him was his time as a CASL soccer coach for his children.

Joby cherished time with his family. He loved a good game of pool and watching sports (especially Georgia football), spending time and traveling with his mother and before his Parkinsons diagnosis, he loved to play golf. He enjoyed spending time with his devoted wife, Lynn, their children, grandchildren, two labs and two dachshunds at their beach house in Pine Knoll Shores. He taught his children the value of integrity, hard work, and kindness.

Joby is survived by his beloved wife, Lynn Donaldson McLeod; his mother, Ann Joye McLeod; his children, Barbara Newcomb (Lake) and Joe McLeod (Tasha); his grandchildren, Lake, Reading, Bowen, and Walker; his sister, Crysty Odom (Tom); his brother-in-law Bill Donaldson, his nephews, Mitchell Odom (Tara), Alex Odom, and Will Donaldson; and his dachshund, Peppa. He was preceded in death by his father, Larry V. McLeod.

The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Joby’s Stephen Minister, Charlie Russell, who walked alongside Joby through his illness and helped keep him centered on Christ.

A service celebrating Joby’s life will be held on Thursday, August 20th, at 2:00 p.m. at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd. Raleigh, NC 27608. It will be streamed live through (https://www.hbumc.org/live).

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (https://give.michaeljfox.org).

When “Goby’s” grandchildren were asked to add a few words, they wanted to note that he was “always happy, wild, funny, goofy, a teacher, kind to them, strong, brave and generous.” We couldn’t say it better.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is serving the family.