Major Joseph L. McCarthy

Joe was born July 28, 1950 in Ft. Belvoir, VA to John Francis McCarthy, Jr and Marie Louise Corteal McCarthy. As the son of a Lt. Colonel of the Air Force, he grew up in Alabama, New York, France, and Fairfax Virginia.

After graduating from W.T. Woodson High School in 1968, he went on to Appalachian State University where he completed his Bachelors of Science in Industrial Arts degree in 1972. While there, he met Becky and they married on August 22, 1971. Joe and Becky then made their home in Wilmington, NC.

While serving as a Deputy Sheriff for the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office from 1979 to 2009, Joe worked in many capacities including Uniformed Patrol, Jail, Civil Process, Court Security, Warrant Squad, Crime Prevention, Explorer Post, and was a firearms and law enforcement instructor. He was also a founding member of the Sheriff's Rifle Team (later expanded and renamed the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team), involved in the Sheriff's Honor Guard, the dive team and boat squad, and he lead the bomb squad. Joe was an avid photographer and taught photography at Cape Fear Community College, a motorcyclist, mountain climber, spelunker, diver, cave diver, guitar player, song writer, enjoyed cross stitching and traveling, and after his retirement he began a ministry called Joe's Crosses where he crafted and gifted over 400 crosses.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a dear brother, James Wilson McCarthy, and is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rebecca Austin McCarthy, his daughter Kerry McCarthy Poinsett and her husband Gary Poinsett, his grandchildren Hannah Marie Wagster and Jesse Austin Wagster, and his brothers John F. McCarthy III and Jeffrey McCarthy and his wife Lisa.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 12 from 6 to 8 PM at Andrews Mortuary and Crematory on Market St. A chapel service will be held on Saturday, January 13 at 11 AM at the same location. If you received a cross from Joe, the family asks you to bring it with you to the Saturday Service for a time of recognition of his ministry.

Becky and Kerry wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the healthcare professionals and friends who gave their support to Joe and his family while he was ill. For every meal, card, shopping trip, text, call, prayer and every minute you spent with him, Thank you.