Joel E. McLeod, Jr.

Brother Joel E. Mcleod, Jr (Alpha Iota 1960). was born April 3, 1941 and entered the Chapter Invisible on Sunday May 19, 2019. The first-born of Joel E. and Eva Mae Williams McLeod in Albany, Georgia. His parents moved from Hazlehurst, Georgia to Washington, D.C. with their growing family in 1945. Joel was lovingly called “Sonny” by his family. Joel grew up in a Christian home and followed in the footsteps of his parents, participating in many activities at Turner Memorial A.M.E. Church, like the Treble Clef and Junior Choirs and the A.C.E. League (Allen Christian Endeavor). He loved singing, had an excellent tenor voice, and as a teen was a member of the Coronets, a group of 5 young men directed by Sis. Mozella Ivy Preston, who also taught him piano lessons as a child.

Growing up in the Eckington community of D.C., Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. was educated in the public-school system of Washington, D.C., attending John F. Cook Elementary, Langley Junior and McKinley Tech Senior High Schools. In high school, he received his varsity letter playing football, and participated in the Junior ROTC program, graduating in rank as a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. He later received a letter from the McKinley Tech Alumni Association (MTAA) stating that he had been chosen and recognized to be honored for his outstanding work and achievements. He was the first and only chairperson for the Class of ’59 Steering Committee since inception and continued to work until the present. He also received the “Esteemed Alumni” Award for his unwavering work with the MTAA.
Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. or “Joe-L”, as he was often affectionately called by friends, did not attend Howard University as did his siblings. He was accepted into Morgan State College (now University) and majored in Mathematics. He was a diver on the swim team and earned many medals. While at Morgan, Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. was the president of his fraternity pledge line (The Untouchable Ten) and was a devoted KAPPA to the end. He was a Life member of KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC. #22 (Washington Alumni) and held the office of Vice President of the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund (KSEF).

Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. held the rank of Lieutenant upon entering the US Army after college graduation. He attended Officers Training College (OTC) and after many years of service, increased in rank ultimately becoming a full Colonel before retiring. He also attended and graduated from the US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Joel was a Vietnam War Veteran, fluent in Vietnamese; and as an advisor he served in the Vietnam War and was also sent to Korea. Joel was a ranger, parachutist, and sharp-shooter, receiving decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized for the following: Parachutist Badge; Vietnam Service Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal W/60 Device; 2 0/S Bars; Ranger Tab; Army Commendation Medal; and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
After his career in the army, Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. was accepted to George Washington Law School in Washington, D.C. where he graduated and received his Juris Doctorate degree. Joel entered government military and civilian employment in various aspects, including working at the Pentagon and US Army DARCOM (Development and Readiness Command). He worked as a military analyst for the Department of Defense, Inspector General’s Office (DODIG), retiring in September 1999. During his civilian employment, he was the executive director of the DC Taxi-cab Commission. Continuing to be the soldier, he was a member of the Executive/Advisory Board for Morgan State University’s ROTC program, assuring appropriate support by the Army, university, and assigned cadre. Through the ROTC Alumni Association, Joel advised officers that were leaving active duty to revert to the reserves to complete their service.

Later in life, Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. married the love of his life, Linda Brooks, who became an integral part of the McLeod family. They were devoted to each other and spent as much time together as possible, attending many social events, taking long drives in the country with the top down on his 1970 vintage corvette, enjoying musical concerts, live theatre, sporting events like the Washington Redskins and Wizards games. They also enjoyed fellowship with friends and family, traveling, and enjoying every aspect of life in their homes in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and on the Maryland Eastern Shore.

Brother Joel E. Mcleod Jr. was a family man and became the fearless leader of the Northeast Atlantic Coast Chapter (NEAC) of the Hall-Kornegay Families Reunion. As a founding member and President of the chapter, Joel was instrumental in hosting the first reunion in a geographical area other than the south. He worked tirelessly with the steering committee and NEAC to make these reunions successful in 2002 in Washington, D.C. and 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Left to cherish Joel’s memory are his wife, Linda; mother, Eva; son, Bernard (Takeisha); three grandchildren, sisters, Judyth Miller (W. Bernard) and Kay Washington (Leslie); brother, Benjamin; brothers-in-law, Claude Lanier (Phyllis), Howard Lanier and Milton Lanier (Beverly); adopted sisters, Cynthia Goodwin and Harriet “Bunny” Jackson; nephews, nieces, and many other friends and relatives.