Joseph Stanford Sink Jr., 84, formerly of West First Avenue, died Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Brookdale of Lexington.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm Friday, March 26 at the Davidson Funeral Home Chapel, by the Rev. Larry Lyon and Dr. Ray Howell III. It will also be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/davidson.funeralhome/. Social distancing and masks are required.
The family will greet friends following the memorial service.
Joe was born March 15, 1937, in Lexington to Joseph Stanford Sink and Dorthea Dorsett Sink. Joe attended Lexington High School and Duke University, where he played football. He served in the U.S. Air Force, although Joe regretted not choosing to serve in the U.S. Army under his uncle, General Robert F. Sink. He returned to Lexington and began a 50 year career at his family’s business, The Dispatch, the third generation of Sinks to do so. He would remain after the newspaper was sold to the New York Times and retired as publisher. Joe loved working for the Times and enjoyed telling people so. Countless reporters got their start from Joe. He especially loved hiring UNC graduates, because “they worked cheap”.
Always quick to promote his hometown, he was instrumental in starting The Barbecue Festival. Joe served as lifetime chairman of the event, which welcomes 200,000 people to Lexington each year. He also started the Empty Stocking Fund with former editor, Ralph Simpson. Joe was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on the boards of Davidson Medical Ministries and the Salvation Army. He was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2012. Joe was also the self-appointed leader of the Black Chicken Coffee crowd that enjoyed each other’s company for almost 20 years to discuss the events of the day. Opposing viewpoints were tolerated by Joe, but just barely. His brother, Wood Dorsett Sink, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Libby Coltrane Sink; his son, Joseph S. Sink III and fiancée Brandy Green of Lexington; his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Prevette and husband Jimmy of Apex; his grandchildren, Aaron Prevette and wife Kristen, Dylan Prevette and wife Hya and Nathan Prevette; and his great-grandchildren, Jake Prevette, Aubrey Prevette, and Oakley Prevette.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net
