Joe Layton Jr.

Sept. 10, 1925 – Aug. 31, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Joe “Po Joe” Layton Jr., 90, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at Natchez Rehabilitation HealthCare Center, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Melvin White officiating.

Burial will follow in the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 5:15 p.m., with a celebration of life wake service at 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.

Mr. Layton was born Sept. 10, 1925, in Portland, Ark., the son of Joe Layton and Hattie Stephens.

Joe spent his childhood in Lake Village, Ark. In the late 1940s, he moved to Detroit.

Joe was a member of the United States Army and returned to Detroit after his service.

After retirement from the Chrysler Corporation, he made frequent trips to Natchez to enjoy his favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. During one of those trips, Joe met Rosie Calcote. They married in 1989.

Joe was baptized by the late Rev. C.L. Franklin at the New Bethel Baptist Church. He served on the Usher Board No. 2, as a church trustee and personal chauffeur to the Rev. Franklin.

Mr. Layton is a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as usher.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lucy Layton; five brothers; and two sisters.

Survivors include wife Rosie Layton; one sister, Annie Coachman of Cleveland, Ohio; six daughters; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a number of nieces, nephews, relatives and close friends.

Online condolences may be sent at westgatefh.com.