Joe Leeper, 97, of Fernandina Beach, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Community Hospice in Fernandina Beach.

He was born on April 27, 1928, in Lobelville, Tennessee, a poor area about 60 miles west of Nashville and 10 miles south of I-40, where he grew up and graduated from Lobelville High School in Perry County. During this time, he played baseball and basketball. After high school he enlisted into the United States Navy and served from February 1946 until September 1953, during the Korean war. He was stationed aboard the USS Little Rock (light cruiser), LSMR 512 (rocket ship), and the USS Capricornus (cargo ship). While in the Navy he was transferred from Virginia to Green Cove Springs, Florida and then to Jacksonville Beach, Florida to serve in the shore patrol.

In the summer of 1950, he met Alberta Jordan, who worked at Morrison’s Cafeteria in Jacksonville, on a blind date. After dating for six months and at 23 years old, it was love at first site so they got married on February 7, 1951, in Kingsland, Georgia, by a justice of the peace. Over the next seven years, Joe and Alberta had four children. Brenda, Bill, Durwin and Danny.

After the Navy, Joe drove a Greyhound Bus out of Jacksonville for a few years all over Florida and South Georgia until he saw an advertisement in the newspaper for police officers in Fernandina Beach. He eventually met the police chief at the Marina Restaurant where they talked a while then went back to the police department where the chief asked him when can you go to work? He said about any time so the chief told him to be back at 11 pm that night to start the midnight shift, so Joe became a Fernandina Beach Police Officer for the next 8 years during the 1950’s and 1960’s. During that time FBPD had seven officers and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office had five deputies. During his time at the police department, Joe also worked part-time for Oxley Funeral Home.

Joe eventually left the police department and started working at Container Corporation Paper Mill in Fernandina Beach. He started in the scale shack and eventually worked his way up to timber accountant. He retired after 27 years at age 62. From 1990 until 2007 he worked part-time driving dealer trade cars for Ron Anderson Chevrolet all over the southeast.

Joe coached the Hornets in Little League Baseball for several years. His team won the league championship one year and he coached the all-star team. In 1962 he helped form a youth football team to play in the Pecan Bowl, which was held in Waycross, Georgia. The next year in 1963, Joe and a few other individuals started Pop Warner Football in Fernandina Beach, which is still here today. They started with three teams; Peewee, Jr Midget and Midget. The Pee Wee team won the Pee Wee Division and played in the Little Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Joe was also instrumental in starting the Shrimp Bowl, which was played after the league season and involved several teams from around the North Florida and South Georgia area. Because of his efforts, thousands of kids in our community have had the opportunity to play football and cheer.

Joe played on a fast pitch softball team called the Islanders, he coached a women’s softball team called the Beauticians and he refereed basketball games for high school. Jr. high and youth leagues. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 62 years and also a member of the Shrine Club where he drove a three-wheel motorcycle and dune buggy in parades for many years.

Joe was always involved in his community and made it his mission to make sure kids in Fernandina Beach had an opportunity to play organized sports. He was a friend to many and will be missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one sister; his wife of 70 years, Alberta Leeper; infant son, Durwin; daughter-in-law Kate Leeper; and son-in-law, Johnny O’Quinn.

He is survived by daughter, Brenda O’Quinn; sons, Bill Leeper (Emma) and Danny Leeper (Kelly); eight grandchildren, Brian O’Quinn (Renee), Joey O’Quinn (Chrissy), Karen Weeks (Michael), Jordan Leeper, Chelsea Moore (Chanse), Danielle Maxwell (Justin), Walker Mullin and John Michael Mullin; and seven great-grandchildren, Alec O’Quinn, Tayler O’Quinn, Brayden O’Quinn. Waylon Weeks, Ruthie Weeks, Harper Moore and Memphis Moore.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday February 25, 2026, at Blackrock Baptist Church Fernandina Beach. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest in a private family graveside service at Jacksonville National Cemetery on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Pallbearers are Brian O’Quinn, Joey O’Quinn, Alec O’Quinn, Jordan Leeper, Michael Weeks, and Justin Maxwell.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating to the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches Camp Sorensen in Joe Leeper’s name.