Joseph Power Seawright was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on August 19, 1945, to James Lemuel and Josephine Jeffrey Power Seawright. Joe lived most of his life in Greenwood except for his time as a college student at Ole Miss and two years in the U.S. Navy, an experience that inspired a lifelong patriotism which often found expression in the Facebook posts and blogs he enjoyed writing.

In 1973 he began work with Baldwin Piano and Organ Company as a draftsman where he designed cabinets for their clocks and pianos. He eventually became their head of product design in a career that lasted nearly 30 years and allowed him the opportunity to travel all over the world as a consultant.

He married Rebecca Keirn in 1968, and they celebrated 52 years together this year. He was a patient and involved father who modeled Christ for his three children: coaching their soccer teams, helping with their science and art projects, building skateboard ramps in the backyard, flying remote control airplanes, announcing sporting events at their school, introducing them to all the latest technological gadgets and games, and pointing out constellations through his gigantic telescope.

His 9 grandchildren referred lovingly to him as Cat Pappy Joe, and he kept them endlessly entertained with all his tricks and tales.

Joe was a fixture in Greenwood, humbly offering his talents to nearly every major event in the community. His love of hot air ballooning led him to plan and preside over BalloonFest, booking bands on the cusp of major breakthroughs and providing top-notch entertainment for many memorable summers. He even studied how to make his own hot air balloon, designed it in seven months, built it in nine and got it certified in a year. It was inflated on his 50th birthday and flew like a dream!

He sang and played bass guitar in bands from his teenage years onward, his longest run being with local legends, Curb Service.

He had an artist's eye for beauty and used his photography skills to capture and preserve striking scenes around the Delta he loved so well.

In an article published in the Commonwealth in 2001, Joe was featured for a Community Service Award where he was quoted as saying, "There are people much more capable than I and much more well-placed to have a bigger impact than I, but I try to do what I can; and I do it because I enjoy it." Enjoy life he certainly did, and he lived it to honor and glorify God. He was a faithful member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he sometimes played in their praise band and was so grateful for the fellowship he found there with his church family.

Joe Seawright's kind, selfless spirit will be missed by many as evidenced by the hundreds of comments on his Facebook page paying tribute to his memory. He leaves an indelible mark on his family, his friends, and even those he never met in person but who knew who he was through his varied contributions to the local and internet communities.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Keirn Seawright of Greenwood; a daughter, Margaret Keirn Seawright Wilson of Greenwood and her 2 children, Lillie Belle and Jack Wade; a son, Joseph Power Seawright, Jr. of Collierville, TN, his wife, Courtney and their 3 children, Annabel, Mary Sutton, and Power, III; a daughter, Rebecca Durden Seawright Bishop of Water Valley, MS, her husband, Matt, and their 4 children, Bo, Ann Wallace, Walter and Arrabella; a brother, James Lemuel Seawright, Jr. of Middletown, NY and his wife Mimi Garrard; a nephew and 2 nieces.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held on Monday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood. Wilson and Knight Funeral is in charge. Online guest book may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com