Mr. Joe L. France, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter and Roberta Penn France, was born June 4, 1949 in Stokes County, NC.  He departed this earth on November 5, 2018.

Joe was a truck driver by trade and at the time of his death he was employed with Innovative Management System.  Joe was baptized in the late 1970's at Clark's Temple, Nelson Hill in Mt. Airy, NC.  He was also in the male chorus at the church.  Joe's passion was the desire to ride motorcycles and fish.  He also loved playing the bass guitar, as he played by ear.  In the late 1970's, Joe, his brother Kenneth, and Ralph King formed a gospel group called "SilverTone" which at one point the group opened for Joe Caldwell-The Mighty Wonders.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Leake France; and his brother-in-law, James Jessup.

Surviving are his three sons, Gerald (Theresa) of Martinsville, VA, Joseph (Terri) of Pennsylvania, and Bruce (Tina) of Cary, NC; six grandchildren, Caleb, Austin, Madison, Jordan, Cameron, and Mason;  one great-grandson, Carson France; five sisters, Margie (Joe) Moore of Dover, DE, Lucy Jessup of Winston-Salem, NC, Elizabeth (Ricardo) Harris of Fitzgerald, GA, Hatti (David) Taylor of Winston-Salem, NC, and Vernelle France of Winston-Salem, NC; two brothers, Kenneth (Janice) France of Monroe, NC and Elder John (Vickie) France of Winston-Salem, NC; one aunt, Carrie Hill of Stuart, VA;  great-uncle, Randell (Ella) France of Westfield, NC; two great-aunts, Nannie Sanders of Cleveland, OH and Oretha France of Melborne, FL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30am Monday, November 12, 2018 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Elder John W. France officiating.  Interment will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens, Mt. Airy, NC.  The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 11:30am on Monday at the Chapel.