Joseph Luther Waldrep

Joseph L. “Joe” Waldrep, 81 of Columbus, Georgia died Thursday, November 21, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 AM Monday, November 25, 2024 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Dr. Shane Green and Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. A private interment will be held at Harmony Memorial Garden Cemetery, Lanett, Al. The family will receive friends following the services at the church.

Joe was born May 21, 1943 in Roanoke, Alabama to the late Perry Jackson and Virginia Lucrete Almon Waldrep. He graduated from Lanett High School, where he was valedictorian, captain of the football team, and voted most popular. After high school, Joe attended Clemson University and graduated in 1966 cum laude with a B.S. in Industrial Management. While at Clemson, Joe played football under the legendary Coach Frank Howard and was the Chairman of the High Court (student body president. Joe received his Juris Doctor Degree at Duke University Law School in 1969.

Joe entered the private law practice in Columbus, Georgia in 1972 after having spent two and a half years as assistant Secretary and Associate Legal Counsel with West Point Pepperell, Inc. in West Point Georgia. In Columbus, Joe developed a general civil practice in corporate and commercial transactions and civil litigation ending his career at Waldrep, Mullin and Callahan. Joe served for twenty-three years as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and has in the past served as President of the Columbus Bar Association. He was a Master in the Columbus American Inn of Court and was selected by his peers as a Georgia Super Lawyer.

Joe was a member and past President of Green Island Country Club and was a founding and proud member of the “O’s” in the big golf group where he was affectionately known as “Waldo”. He also was past president of Peach Little League and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Other than his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Sue Waldrep and his brother Perry Render Waldrep.

Survivors include his wife Dena Mitchell Waldrep, his children, Morgan Perry Waldrep (Jodi), Malvern Joseph Waldrep (Katie), Amy Waldrep Sheffield (Ryan), Callie Brooks Gatewood and his grandchildren, Frank Waldrep, Charles Waldrep, Carolina Sheffield, Mal Waldrep, Gigi Waldrep, Rollins Sheffield and Lola Waldrep. Joe is also survived by his first wife and mother of his children Nancy Waldrep.

Flowers will be accepted, those so desiring can make contributions in memory of Joe Waldrep to St. Paul United Methodist Church, Clemson University or Duke University School of Law.