Joe Kent

KENT, Representative Joe, age 72, Beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend & public servant of Tennessee, passed February 9, 2010. He retired as a Lieutenant from the Memphis Police Department were he was selected during the race riots of 1968 to guard James Earl Ray for 30 days from not escaping. He was a well loved Tennessee State Representative for 26 years for East Memphis & Germantown and was proudest of his work backing education & crime victim�'s compensation legislation. He was a moderate who often served as a bridge between Republicans and Democrats. He was a lobbyist for 3 years for Farris Matthews and was President and lobbyist for the Memphis Police Association for 3 years. He was a recipient of the National Kidney Foundation�'s Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of Leadership Memphis Class of 1984. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy & James Joslin. He is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Becky Kent; sons, Joe & Kevin Kent; grand daughter, Melanie Kent; in-laws, Geneva & Bill Hedrick; faithful canine companion, Mandy. Visitation will be Friday from 4:30to 8pm at Cole & Garrett Funeral Home in Goodlettsville and Saturday from 9:30 to 11am at Tulip Grove Baptist Church, 563 Shute Lane Old Hickory, TN with a Celebration of Life at 11am. A Memorial Service will be held in Memphis on February 20, 2010 at from 3 to 5pm at The McWherter Senior Citizen Center, 1355 Estate Drive. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, 1611 21st Ave, A South; Nashville, TN 37232 or charity of your choice. COLE & GARRETT FUNERAL HOME, Goodlettsville 615-859-5231