Paul Joseph Obituary

Dr. Paul Thomas Joseph Sr., 96, passed away on Monday, July 1, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Father John Zimmerman will officiate, along with Father Robert Higgins and Deacon Timothy Joseph. Burial at Quaker Cemetery will follow. A visitation will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024, from 5:00 -7:00 PM at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 PM. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church or the Kershaw Center Disability Foundation, P.O. Box 310, Camden, SC, 29021.

Paul was born February 20, 1928, in Georgetown, SC. He was the sixth of seven children of the late Thomas Raad and Barbara Nahra Joseph, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in the early 1900's. He was married to the love of his life, Margaret Shahid Joseph, for 65 years before her passing in 2018. Paul was predeceased by his siblings, John, Nimmer, Helen, Zion, David, and Pauline.

Paul graduated in 1946 from Winyah High School in Georgetown, SC. While in high school, he earned his Eagle Scout award and was a star football player at Winyah High School, holding many rushing records as well as participating in the 1945 Shrine Bowl. As referenced in a tribute by Coach McLendon in the News and Courier, ""My Greatest Player…. Joseph Small But He Had Courage"".

Paul earned a BS degree in 1950 from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and graduated from Georgetown University Dental School in 1956. He served as a Navy dentist and was allocated to the Marines from 1956 - 1958 on Parris Island. Thereafter, he joined his brother David at Joseph Dental Associates in Camden, SC. Their legacy continues to this day, as two of their sons, Dr. Bobby Joseph and Dr. Paul Joseph, Jr., and his granddaughter, Dr. Adry Joseph, continue to serve the dental needs of the Camden community.

He will always be remembered for his leadership in both his family and his community. He displayed a passion and loyalty for his many endeavors. In 1985, the President of Georgetown University awarded Paul 'Parent of the Year', in recognition of the many family members-now totaling 21- who have graduated from the university. In 2009 he was named 'Volunteer of the Year"" by the United Way of Kershaw County. In 2010, he received the Camden Country Club 'Golf Hole in One' Award. In 2011, he was 'Professional Man of the Year' by the Camden Rotary Club, and he received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Camden High School Bulldog Athletic Club. In 2018, the Carolina Gamecock Club awarded him ""Legendary Fan of the Game"" for his life-long commitment to USC Athletics. He was a Fellow in the International College of Dentistry.

Beyond the many formal accolades and awards, Paul will always be remembered as a beloved and respected leader of the large extended Joseph family, and someone who never said an unkind word about anyone. He loved being surrounded by family and friends and he had an unflinching positive outlook on life. He loved to quote from a song which became his credo: ""Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don't mess with Mr. In-Between.""

Paul is survived by his six daughters and two sons, Karen Theos (Jerry), of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Ellen Cherof (Edward), of Roswell, GA, Pauline Frampton (Wyman), of Charleston, SC, Mary Hayes (Paul), of Camden, SC, Margaret Koutroulakis (Harry), of Camden, SC, Libby Wullner (Sammy), of Irmo, SC, Dr. Paul Joseph, Jr. (Anne), of Camden, SC and Michael Joseph, of Camden, SC; and his twenty-one grandchildren, Kristen, Nathan, Margaret, Shelby, Cassie, Katherine, Daniel, Pauline, Ellen, Andrew, Joseph, Raad, Nicholas, Adry, Helen, Lizzy, Paul Thomas, Ben, Maria, Samantha and Nahra. He is also survived by his thirteen great-grandchildren, Leena, Lana, Thomas, Joseph, James, West, William, Henry, Loren, Cassidy, Theo, Gael, and Georgia.


Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left online for the Joseph family at www.kornegayfuneral.com.