Joe B HAVENS (VETERAN 2 WARS)

ELECTRICIAN'S MATE SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER US Navy
Korea
Vietnam
November 2, 1931 - April 27, 2018
Bronze Star
Purple Heart

*Obituary

Joe B. Havens, 86, of Greenbrier, AR, went to be with the Lord Friday, April 27, 2018. He was born November 2, 1931 in Wooster, AR to the late William and Verna Havens. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Marie Havens, his parents and many siblings.

Joe B. Havens served in the United States Navy from 1949 to 1970 as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman.
His service included tours of duty on board United States ships Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16); Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42); Estes (AGC-12) and Cleveland (LPD-7) as a member of the nucleus crew, the first Marine Division (Korea); the National Naval Medical Center, various naval air stations, naval hospitals and with a Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Training Center. He also served two tours in Vietnam, 1964 to 1968. His military decorations include The Bronze Star Medal with Combat V for service with the Marines during the Korean War; Purple Heart, and Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V Combat Action Ribbon. He received a Letter of Commendation in January, 1997 from the Chief of Navy Personnel for recruiting assistance.

Havens served with two for-profit nursing home chains, Americana and Medicenters of America, part-time night administrator at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis; Administrator of the Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee Medical College and served from 1976 to 1995 in the marketing, development and management of The Trezevant Episcopal Home, an upscale retirement Community in Memphis. He served as its President until January 2, 1995. Subsequently, he served as a community consultant to Lifeblood. MidSouth Regional Blood Center and as Vice President, Management Development, ServiceMaster Diversified Health Services. He served as the Executive Director of the progressive Little Rock Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. Subsequent to reengineering this facility, he was selected to administer for Centennial Healthcare Corporation, the prestigious Chenal Rehabilitation and Health Care Sub-Acute facility in West Little Rock where he serves as Administration.

Havens is a community-spirited individual. He has served as Chairman of the Board, Memphis Heart Association; Board of Directors, The Arthritis Foundation; Memphis/ Millington Community Mental Health Association. The Liberty Bowl Reception Committee; Memphis Botanic Garden Foundation Board, and appointed Commissioner for The Memphis City Beautiful Commission. He currently serves on the Board of Directors, American Heart Association, Little Rock affiliate. Selected to Chamber Ambassador, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; Charter Member of the Faulkner County Beautiful Commission.
He has been two-time President of The Exchange Club of East Memphis and President of the Exchange Club of Trezevant Manor. He was instrumental in founding The Exchange Club of Trezevant Manor in 1983, the first such club formed in a retirement community. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Little Rock. A Past President of the Arkansas Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators and was appointed a National Director of ACHCA.

He has been awarded Administrator of the Year by the American College of Healthcare Administrators; Professional Service Award by the Tennessee Healthcare Association; Man of The Year award by the Arthritis Foundation; President's Award for Excellence by The National Exchange Club; Caregiver Award presented by Delta Volunteer Ombudsman program and Member Emeritus, Tennessee Health Care Association. In 1996 he was awarded a Master's Professional Certification by the American College of Healthcare Administrators, Selected for Marquis ''Who's Who'' in Medicine and Health Care 1996.

Havens has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of the State of New York and is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Memphis. He served as Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Long-Term Care, a publication of the American College of Healthcare Administrators. He has two books in print: ''CHIEF: The Evolution, Development and Role of the Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Naval Service; and ''CORPSMAN!,'' both published by the Turner Publishing Company, Paducah, Kentucky.

He is Vice Chairman of the Navy Recruiting District New Orleans Assistance Council (RDAC) serving to assist the Navy's recruiting efforts and is a strong advocate for the beloved Navy in which he served. In 1995, he was reappointed to serve on The Secretary of the Navy's Committee on Retired Personnel (Medical Support) and invited to serve on The Navy Recruiting Commands National Assistance Council. The Navy League of the United States appointed Havens as President of the State of Arkansas Council in 1997 and during this first year, he was instrumental in establishment of the first-ever Sea Cadet Corps, (The Little Rock Division) in Arkansas. In 2000, The Navy League of the United States appointed him as National Director.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving family, his sons; Ed and Emmett Havens, His daughters; Cynthia (Curtis) Mayes, and Nancy (Jeffrey) Jordan, His grandchildren; Ashley Mayes and Cody Kesler, his great granddaughter; Cassie Ann Marie Porter and his sister, Martha Ayers. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11:00AM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Wooster, AR. Visitation will be Thursday, May 3 at Roller McNutt Funeral Home, 650 Central Landing Blvd., Conway, AR from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Interment will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Contributed on 2/1/23 by hawkinsdonna48
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