Joseph Wesley "Joey" Autrey

Joseph Wesley "Joey" Autrey, 38, of Connelly Springs, NC went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, April 26, 2013 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center surrounded by his loving family and close friends. He was born in Burke County on July 2, 1974 and was the son of Brenda Hudson Autrey of Morganton and the late Charles Josheau Autrey, Sr. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Forest and Vassie Hudson; paternal grandfather, Claude Autrey, Sr.; and uncles, Bobby Cox and Claude Autrey, Jr.Joey was a paramedic with Burke County Emergency Services. He also served as an EMS preceptor and was a founding member of Burke County Incident Management Support Team. Joey served as a Lieutenant with Lovelady Fire and Rescue and was a member of Icard Fire and Rescue and Salem Fire and Rescue. He had been involved in emergency services for 22 years. Joey was a member of Burkemont Baptist Church.Joey was a kind and humble man who leaves many to cherish his memory including his mother, Brenda Autrey; brother, Charles Josheau Autrey, Jr. and wife, Lara Somers Autrey, of Morganton; sister, Dr. Melessa Autrey Liebzeit and husband, Ryan J. Liebzeit of Herndon, VA; his fiancée, Deanna Cunningham, and his daughter, Jackie Cunningham, both of the home; his uncles and aunts, Ronnie and Judi Hudson, Roger and Cindy Autrey, and Carole and Frank Fairchild, all of Morganton; his paternal grandmother, Agnes Autrey of Morganton; nieces and nephews, Josh and Kaitlin Autrey, and Emma and Ethan Liebzeit; and numerous cousins and friends.Joey’s family would like to express their appreciation to all Burke County emergency personnel and agencies for their love and support and to the WFBMC for their loving care.Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Burkemont Baptist Church with Dr. David Mills and Rev. Eddy Bunton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Burkemont Baptist Church. The body will lie in state one hour before the receiving and again on Wednesday before the service. Memorial contributions may be made in Joey’s memory to Burkemont Baptist Church Youth Ministry, 4668 Burkemont Rd., Morganton, NC 28655 or to NC Fallen Firefighters Foundation, 2501 Blue Ridge Rd., Suite 250, Raleigh, NC 27607. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting with arrangements.