On October 30, 2014 our world lost one of its brightest stars. Joshua Kegan Salter went home to be with his Lord, leaving us to grieve the loss of this beloved son and brother.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. A private family burial will be held at a later time. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 1, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Tifton's First Baptist Church.
Josh was born July 5, 1986, a week after his due date. And although his general punctuality did not improve with age, when it really mattered, he would be there first.
Under the guidance of his loving church family at Vanceville Congregational Christian Church, Joshua accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord on November 13, 1994 and was baptized soon afterward.
One of Josh’s greatest passions in life was music. From an early age, he embraced his musical talent, becoming the church’s youngest song leader of morning hymns for the Sunday school hour. After receiving a guitar for Christmas, he began lessons and spent every spare minute practicing. Soon the acoustic guitar was joined by an electric guitar, a mandolin, and a key board. He loved to make music, listen to music, and share music, filling our Ipods to capacity with new recommendations. One of the highlights of his high school years was singing and performing in the Eighth Street Singing Company. His choir family was dear to his heart and he cherished the pictures and memories of their performances and competitions. He sang in the GMEA All-State Choruses and joined three friends to win honors in the Region and State Boys Quartet in Literary. He continued performing in college and sang for the ABAC Choirs and his beloved director Susan Roe. In 2009 he was named the ABAC Jazz Choir’s most outstanding member.
He prized the jam sessions with his gifted musical friends and loved to perform with his longtime friend and roommate Smalls, (Adam Smith).
An honor graduate of Tift County High School and a Senior Superlative, Josh earned degrees from ABAC and Middle Tennessee State University. While in school in Tifton, Josh worked for years at Athletic Attic and his work t-shirts were always a prized part of his massive t-shirt collection. Josh was currently employed by Massey Restoration and Glass and worked hard to build his career there.
In a testament to his gregarious nature, Josh had more friends than we can count. He was loved and respected by individuals from every part of society. From his teammates, with whom he played both rec ball and varsity ball, to those friends who shared his passion for music like Adam, Matthew, Cory and Al, he loved them all and appreciated their unique gifts.
Like his dad, Josh was a trivia buff and a sports fanatic, and he was his mama’s only serious threat in Scrabble. Regardless of the activity, he just loved spending time with his family, and he made sure we were all in attendance for Sunday night dinner.
Josh was a Blue Devil through and through. He lettered in cross country, wrestling, and baseball. He was number 21 on the Devil Diamond.
Along with his brother Ben, Josh started the youth wrestling program with the Irwin County Indians at the age of seven. Although Josh had his share of wins on the mat across the region and at the state level, he was happiest on those long fall road trips just hanging out in the stands and reveling in the comradery of teammates who became lifelong friends. In the gym, Josh was most animated and vocal in support of his teammates, and he was his brother, Ben’s biggest fan.
Josh loved the outdoors—fishing, swimming in the Alapaha River, and canoeing on “down river” camping trips with his high school buddies. He found peace on the family farm and loved sitting under the stars by the fire pit.
Josh was an avid Georgia Tech and Braves fan, but didn’t hesitate to correct the errors of the coaching staff. He was also actively involved officiating football and basketball with his dad.
Josh was the family’s peacemaker, helping us through conflict. He taught us to love without restrictions. To those of us who knew him well, Josh had the most tender of hearts, a trait that caused him much pain in life but one which made him a true and loyal friend and our faithful champion. He always railed against social injustice and hypocrisy, and he often backed the underdog. He loved fiercely and would passionately fight for and fight with those he loved.
Josh was a caring brother and a devoted son to his parents, Phil and Debbie. He loved his brother and fellow mischief-maker Ben, his sister-in-law Bailey, and his “baby” sister Savannah, with whom he had a special connection. He was devoted to his nephew John Michael and always good for a game of Star Wars, Ninja Turtles, Batman, Spiderman or just a rousing sword fight. His loving grandmothers are Sandra Laster, Emily Salter, and great-grandmother, Dessie Carpenter. He loved his Aunt Connie, Uncle Turkey John, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Ed and special cousins Cassie and David, Chip and Anna, Michaela, Alex, and Peyton.
We know he has now been reunited in heaven with his grandfathers, Billy Joe Laster and Leroy Salter, his great-grandparents Bill and Lillian Phillips and Junior Carpenter. In addition to his blood family, Josh is survived by the love of his life, Katy York and her precious daughter, Raynee. He called them his “two extremely beautiful crushes,” and they brought him much joy and happiness.
Josh ended his phone conversations not with “Bye” but with “Peace.” And that’s what we wish for you, Josh—everlasting peace. Your life was too brief and our hearts are breaking, but we thank God for every moment with you and cherish every memory.