Mr. Joel E. Kea, age 77, beloved husband of Lisa Ann Boyd Kea, of Adrian passed away at their home on Wednesday evening, June 9, 2021.

Born in Dublin, Georgia, he was one of eight children in the family.  At the age of seven the family moved to Florida where he grew up and attended Melbourne High School.  As a teenager he started working with his father as a Commercial Crabber and Fisherman until enlisting in the U.S. Army.   Upon being honorably discharged, he returned home and assumed work as a crabber, in the waters in and around Grant, Florida.  In the mid 1970s he joined Florida Power and Light where he worked until retiring in 1985.  In 2005 he left Florida and returned to his early childhood roots in Emanuel County.  Shortly after settling in Adrian he was convinced to run for public office and was elected as Mayor of Adrian.  He served the Adrian community as their Mayor until 2012. 

Mr. Kea had attended the Adrain United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church of Adrian and the Norristown Revival Center.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rabun and Elizabeth “Betty” Kitchens Kea, a daughter, Jody Sue Kea and siblings, Avis, Jackie, Morris, Myrtice, Zelma and Homer.

Mr. Kea leaves behind, his wife of thirty six years, Lisa Ann Kea, children, Lisa Dollar Passmore (Sterling), Franklin, NC, Joel Allen Kea, Vero Beach, FL, Rebecca Beebee (Jessie), Vero Beach, FL, a sister, Dorothy “Dot” Morris, Adrian, GA, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at a later date.

Mr. Kea will be laid to rest in Grant, Florida.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence and sign the online guest register at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia