Joseph Edward Horton Jr.

Joseph Edward Horton Jr. was born on July 16, 1955, and lived in Chapel Hill for the entirety of his life. He passed away unexpectedly midafternoon on August 1st, 2025, and it is believed that he did so peacefully and without suffering.

Joseph, affectionately known as Little Joe, was born in Chapel Hill, NC to Joseph and Susan Craig Horton. He graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1973 and would go on to enlist in the United States Army and achieved an E4 ranking while traveling across the United States and parts of Germany. When Little Joe returned home, he began working at the Chapel of the Cross, an Episcopal church in Chapel Hill, where he worked alongside his Aunt Doris for several years. Around that time, he reconnected with Carmen Cole, also a Chapel Hill native. The two had known each other for years, shared a love of music, laughter, and a good party, and so they began dating. They married in September 1989 and one year later welcomed their first child, a son named Joseph Cole. Six years later, they were blessed with a daughter, Sadie Nicole. Little Joe and Carmen would remain married for 14 years. Though Joe and Carmen eventually went their separate ways, their bond – and the beautiful family they created together remained one of the most meaningful parts of his life.

Little Joe was an exceptional cook, an avid reader, and hard worker. He was a man of very few words but when he did speak, he spoke his mind with conviction with no malice intended. He had a boisterous laugh that could make others laugh. He was also a bit of a loner but was always there for his family whenever they needed him. He also made sure to visit his father as often as possible.

A loving father, brother, & son, Little Joe is survived by his father Joseph E. Horton Sr. and his stepmother Ellen Horton, his son, Joseph (Cole) Horton and daughter Sadie Nicole Horton. His siblings, Cathy Horton Paylor, Carolyn Nickens, Ann Burnette, Annette Horton, Charlotte Horton, Paul Degraffenried, Belinda Alston (Greg), Glenton Horton, Patty Horton, nine nephews and nieces: Monte’ Burnette, Tamara Barrett, Tashauna Riggsbee (Lamar), Chandra Pittman (Jamara), Darius Horton, Melanie Burnette, Shardae Brown (Cordell), Susan Nickens, and Kumar Warren, and eighteen great nephews and nieces: Cyerah O’Briant, Jamera Davis, Myah Burnette, LJ Riggsbee, Jacari Alston, Julya Brown, Aiyana Riggsbee, Della Brown, RJ Alston, Sundai Brown, Tamia Barrett, Ariel Pulliam, Scarlette Brown, Elaina Brown, Brayden Pittman, Tyson Barrett, Lily Pittman, and Julian Wyley. He was preceded in death by his mother Susan Craig Horton, younger brother Larry Horton, and nephew Kevin Nickens.