Joseph James (Joe) Cordova

Joseph James (Joe) Cordova, age 94, died Monday, January 24, 2022, at his home in Valdosta. A native of Macon, GA, Joe, was the only son of Joseph James Cordova, Sr. and Angiola Minor Cordova. Joe’s father died when Joe was 8 years old and from that early age he worked after school as a movie theater usher, a soda jerk, and a watch and jewelry repairman at a jewelry store. From early on he showed responsibility, work ethics, leadership skills, and a desire to be of service to his community. He attended Bibb County public schools and volunteered to join the US Navy in 1944 immediately after his high school graduation. Upon his return to Macon at the end of World War II, he attended Georgia Tech graduating in 1950 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. There he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He later completed the Program for Senior Executives at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Immediately after graduation, Joe was employed by the Georgia Power Company. His long career with Georgia Power took him to posts in Jonesboro, Macon, Cornelia, Athens, Decatur, Valdosta, and Atlanta. He retired in 1991 as company Vice President in charge of the southern region.

A committed supporter of scouting, Joe served as surrogate father to a host of boys and young men in his position as scoutmaster in Jonesboro and Macon. He was chairman of various District Committees, was District Chairman, and President of the Northeast Georgia and the Alapaha Area Councils of the Boys Scouts of America. He was a Silver Beaver Award recipient and was honored by the Boys Scouts of America with the Distinguished Citizen Award in 2004. He was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta where he served as Elder, Deacon, Treasurer, chairman of several committees and usher.

He was an active supporter of community, civic, cultural, and benevolent activities. He served as President of the Valdosta High School Band Boosters, Chairman of the United Way Annual Fund Drive and President of the United Way; President of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of numerous committees; President of the Valdosta Rotary Club where he was a Will Watt Fellow and a Paul Harris Fellow. In the Rotary Club he was creator and Founding Board Member of the Rotary Medical Equipment Transportation (METS) Corporation which provided beds, surgical equipment, materials and funds to hospitals in Chile, initially, and to other countries in the following years. Joe was one of the founders of Leadership Lowndes in 1989, served as board members and director, and was honored as the recipient of the Leadership Lowndes Community Leadership Award in 2000.

He was Chairman and 14-year member of the South Georgia Medical Center Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, Board Chairman of Lanier Health Services, and Board Chairman of the South Georgia Health Services; President, trustee, and Trustee Emeritus of the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation where he was an active and effective fundraiser and negotiator for the purchase of land for the Langdale Place and other hospital properties.

Joe was a member of the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club, and Advisory Director of the C&S National Bank of Valdosta. He was a volunteer reader at Lomax Pinevale school, a member of Partners in Education Program, and served as a volunteer builder/electrician for Habitat for Humanity, the Children Advocacy Center and the United Way Day of Caring; and he delivered meals for the Break Bread Together program.

He supported the Valdosta Symphony Guild, the VSU Department of Art, Music and Theatre; the Turner Center for the Arts, and other artistic endeavors in the city and the area.

He enjoyed traveling, cruising, hunting, and gardening, and was an avid reader of naval history. He enjoyed listening to music from the big band era.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Seco Cordova; a daughter and son-in law Fran and Karl Strauch of Tampa, FL; two sons, Joseph James (Jay) Cordova of Atlanta and John Cordova of Tampa, FL; sister Joan Cordova Walker, of Macon; granddaughters Taylor Strauch of Nashville, TN; Kelsie Strauch of Tampa, FL; and Greta Cordova of Ashville, NC; niece Pia Pantoja and her husband Travis Simmons of Valdosta; grandnephew Nicolas Baer of Valdosta; sisters-in-law Carmen Seco of Pitrufquen, Chile, and Maria Gloria Seco of Santiago, Chile; several cousins, nephews and nieces in Georgia and Florida; his large, extended family in Chile, and his four-legged friend, companion and perpetual source of entertainment, Chico Seco Cordova.

A memorial service will he held at 4 pm on Friday, January 28, 2022 in the in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. Dr. Glenda Hollingshead will officiate. The family will receive friends from 3:30 until service time prior to the service and will host a reception at Park Place by McLane following the service from 5 until 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates charitable donations to the Boys Scouts of America, 123 A North Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31601 or Break Bread Together at the First Presbyterian Church of Valdosta, P.O. Box 1094 Valdosta, Georgia 31603, or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com. The Memorial Service will be streamed and available on the Tribute Wall tab with the obituary. Carson McLane Funeral Home