Joe Perry Cope

Joe Perry Cope, 84 of Pinetop Rd. Lexington, died Thursday January 23, 2014 at Hinkle Hospice Home after declining health. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date, however they will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Monday, Jan. 27, 2014 at Davidson Funeral Home. Mr. Cope was born June 29, 1929 in Davidson County to John Henry Cope and Vonie Callahan Cope. He was Owner/Operator of Smokey Joe’s BBQ and a member of Sheets Memorial Baptist Church. A US Air Force Veteran, he was a member of the VFW Post 3074, American Legion #8 and Amvets Post 13. He was also a member of Lexington Men’s Golf Association and Carolina Beagle Club. After serving in the Air Force in the military police Joe joined the Lexington Police Department in 1954. He left the police force to join his brother Paul Cope in the restaurant business. They purchased Warner Stamey’s Barbecue on South Main Street and renamed it The Old Hickory Barbecue. Joe and Paul also opened The Red Barn Fish Camp in Linwood, then Joe went on to open the Jiffy Kitchen. In October of 1972 he opened Smokey Joe’s Barbecue, which was one of the original restaurants to participate in the first annual Lexington Barbecue Festival. Joe was an Avid golfer where he was a member and former club champion of the Lexington Men’s Golf Association. He was also a member of the Carolina Beagle Club where he competed with his beagles and produced several field champions. He loved bowling with his friends and was a member of the bowling league at the Lexington YMCA. Joe loved each and every customer that he ever had the privilege to serve. He was a great man to work for and taught many everything he knew about his love of the barbecue business. Preceding him in death were his parents and his brothers, Paul Cope and Ralph Cope and his wife, Lynn and brother –in-law, John Lopp. Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Janett M. Cope, sons, Mike Cope and wife, Susan, Scott Cope and wife, Kaffee; four granddaughters, Courtney Cope, Holly Cope, Aimee Cope, Allison Cope; three great-grandchildren, Jadyn McLain, Noah Harvey, Ian Harvey; a sister, Joyce Lopp of Lexington and a sister-in-law, Ennis Cope.