Joseph L Gutridge Sr.

Joseph Lamar Gutridge, Sr. was born the fourth of five children to Mother Rosetta and Deacon Henry Gutridge on February 5, 1942, in Selma, Alabama. Joseph grew up in Selma, Alabama, and when he was a teenager, the family moved to Cliffwood, New Jersey. He grew up in the church and was a member of Faith Tabernacle United Holiness Church in Freehold, New Jersey.

Deacon “Joe” Gutridge attended Matawan High School where he played football. His 1958 State Champion football team was inducted into the Matawan High Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008. He served in the United States Marine Corps until he was honorably medically discharged in 1962.

He was joined in Holy Matrimony to Beverly Leigh Hall Gutridge on January 17, 1961. They had six loving children from this union Beverly Leigh (deceased), Joseph Lamar, Dwayne Joseph, Eric Marvin, Audra Gloria Lizet and Alvin Mark. In 1984, he rededicated his life to the Lord and joined the former Second Baptist Church at 101 Broad Street in Perth Amboy, New Jersey under the leadership of Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr, now the Cathedral International where he faithfully served as a Deacon for many years until his health declined.

Deacon “Joe” Gutridge was employed by E.I. DuPont, Parlin, New Jersey until he retired in 1992 after 22 years of service. He worked at Flair Cleaners in Fair Haven, New Jersey for 15 years until he lost his sight in 2012. He was known in the community to help troubled young men enter the military or apprentice them in dry cleaning. Deacon Joe Gutridge was a man of his word! He kept his promise to his father, and cared for his three sisters, nieces and nephews and to Brother James Phillips and cared for his daughter Teena Davis.

Deacon Joseph Gutridge was ushered into God’s arms on October 7, 2022, at home surrounded by his loving family in Red Bank, New Jersey. He was predeceased in death by his parents Mother Rosetta and Deacon Henry Gutridge, wife, Deaconess Beverly Leigh Gutridge, a daughter with her namesake Beverly Leigh Gutridge, sisters Frances Gutridge and Zelma Pope, brother Henry Hicks, brother in laws Joseph Hayes, Sr. and Calvin Cross, sister in law Viola Mitter, brother-in-law and best friend Roland “Punkin” Mitter, nieces Robin Pope, Bernice Hayes, Darlene Robinson, Cetavia Mitter; nephews George Hayes, Steven and Kevin Mitter, Anthony “TJ” Hicks, Perry Wright and friend Deacon William Major.

He leaves to continue his loving legacy and cherish his many fond memories four sons, Joseph Gutridge Jr, Dwayne Gutridge Sr., Eric Gutridge Sr., Alvin Gutridge Sr. and a loving daughter Minister Audra Gutridge. Two sisters, Mother Mary Hayes, Evangelist Ora Lee Brooks, brother in laws Franklin  and Fisher “Rick” Hall; 14 grandchildren: Tiera “Babygirl”(Justin), Dwayne Jr. “DJ”, Timothy “Tim”, Terence (Carelia), Alvin Jr.“AJ” and  Tequya, Tiffany, Erika, Tranitta, Jamira, Elise, Sha’Niya, Eric Jr., and Leah; 20 great-grandchildren Allure, Ondia, Elijah, Tyjir, Leroy Jr., Rajon, Anissa, Azealiah, Samaya, Faith, Harmoni, Elijah “Lij”, Amir, Ariah “Little Beverly”, Naomi, Kaiden “Chunk Chunk”, Leila, Amina, Layla and Enzo; four grands in love Younger, Alecia, Chriseana, and Darielle, three great-grands in love Taraji, Heaven and Luke; and  a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.