Dr. Joseph R. Plummer, a noted Milwaukee educator, was born in Albany, GA and earned a B.S. Degree in Education from Albany State College while working for Bobs Candy. Most important, he accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age and as a teenager served as the Secretary of the St. Paul Baptist Church in Albany.
After graduating from college, Dr. Plummer served in the Army in Europe as part of the post-WW II occupation troops. In the military, he developed a love of travel. In his life, He visited all 7 continents, all 50 States and over 100 countries.
After the Army, he attending Indiana University where he earned a Masters and met his wife of 61 years, Minnie. He then worked as an educator in St. Louis, Chicago and finally in Milwaukee for 27 years. He worked as a teacher, an assistant principal, and then spent 20 years as a principal at Browning and Kluge Elementary Schools. While still a principal, he earned a Doctorate from Nova University. He retired in 1992.
Dr. Plummer’s life exemplified service. He was active in church as an Elder at Gospel Lutheran, as a Trustee and Superintendent of Sunday School at Galilee Baptist, and as a Sunday School teacher at Calvary Baptist. He was also active in the PTA and Boy Scouts. He helped organize and run a youth softball league for boys and he sponsored a champion marble player.
He remained active in retirement. He was a faithful member of Antioch Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church where he was active in the Wednesday Bible Study, the Men’s Sunday School class and Men’s Fellowship activities. He also worked as a volunteer for the 1996 Olympics, the 2000 Baseball All-Star Game’s Fan fest, the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl and the Dekalb County Juvenile Citizen Review Panel where he worked for 17 years and became chairperson.
Dr. Plummer enjoyed attending the Masters annually, playing golf with the Dekalb Seniors and his grandson Aaron (who preceded him in death), as well as representing Georgia in golf at the Senior Olympics in San Antonio, Tucson, and Houston.
Dr. Joseph R. Plummer is survived by several loved ones including his wife Minnie, sons Eric and Joseph, daughter Cheryl Foster (Terry, husband), grandchildren (Lauren, Zachary and Maia), nephews and nieces.
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