Dr. Joseph Deese, 74, of Maxton, NC was born February 23, 1952, to the late Mr. Earl Deese and Mrs. Sallie Thompson Deese and passed away peacefully at his home on Preston Road in the Red Banks Community on Monday, May 25, 2026.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Ms. Maxine Deese; his brother-in-law Mr. James Ronald Chavis; his stepmother Mrs. Mary Martin Bell Deese; and his stepsister Mrs. Jeannie Bell Nichols.

Joseph leaves behind to cherish his memory his life partner of 42 years, Dr. Delton Johnson of the home; his sister Mrs. Diane Deese Chavis of Pembroke; his nephews Mr. Jordan (Victoria) Chavis of Chapel Hill; Mr. James Ryan Chavis of Brooklyn, NY; his beloved great-niece Miss Nora James Chavis; his step-sister Mrs. Marty Bell-Knell (Donnie) of Wake Forest; and very special friends, Mrs. Loretta Mosely of Pembroke; Ms. Tammie Jump of Lumberton, and Mr. Chris Snell of Pembroke.

Joseph graduated from Prospect School in 1970, UNCP in 1974. and the UNC School of Medicine in 1978 where he was a recipient of the UNC Board of Governors’ Scholarship.

Joseph was the first Lumbee to become a board-certified ER physician in NC. He attained this certification in December 1990 and remained board certified until his retirement in July 2020.