J oseph Julius Stellute ("Joe") passed into Eternal Life on October 2, 2022, at the age of 79 after a courageous battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  He was born in Guinea (Gloucester), Virginia on November 6, 1942 and was raised in Hampton, Virginia.  From kindergarten through ninth grade he attended St. Vincent's (now Peninsula Catholic) in Newport News, Virginia. He then attended Hampton High School so that he could play football for the Hampton Crabbers.  He graduated from Hampton High School in 1961 and was a proud Hampton Crabber all his life. He would often proudly recount vivid details of many football games and recreate his "famous" plays from the integral games. He was offered a full football scholarship to attend the College of Notre Dame, but he declined in order to remain close to his mother and the community he loved so much.

Joseph received his Bachelor of Science from the College of William and Mary and his Juris Doctor from University of Memphis School of Law, where he met his wife, Janice. After passing the Virginia Bar Exam, he worked briefly for the Hampton City Attorney's Office before going into private practice with Ray Storm, with whom he formed the firm "Storm & Stellute".  After Ray Storm passed away, Joseph was a sole practitioner until his daughter, Selena, and son, Mario, joined him in private practice and the three became "The Stellute Law Firm".  It was one of his proudest and greatest joys to work alongside two of his children for many years until his daughter left the firm when she was appointed as a Hampton General District Court Judge.  Joe was a zealous advocate for his clients, and even after some fierce courtroom battles, he would walk away as friends with opposing counsel. He never retired from the practice of law and was very active with the business of his law office even in his final days.

Joe loved the City of Hampton and because of that, he did not favor travel. His favorite place to be in the world was on the deck in Buckroe Beach or his home in Old Wythe.  He was very proud of the real estate properties he had accumulated over the years in both Hampton and Newport News.  His daughter, Angela, also shared his love of real estate and has made her career as a realtor.

From a young age, Joseph was a devout Roman Catholic.  He always felt a strong obligation to attend mass, and as a young boy, he rode the bus alone to downtown Newport News so that he could attend mass at St. Vincent's.  He was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church for many years and most recently, an active member of St. Rose of Lima & Korean Martyrs Catholic Church.  The first thing Joe would do if he was out of town over the weekend was to find the closest Catholic Church so that he would not miss mass.  His devotion to the Catholic faith and the mass was admired by many.

Family was everything to Joseph.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  He fostered a very close relationship with his three children and always had a strong presence and positive influence in their lives.  Although he worked long hours in their younger years, he never missed their baseball games, basketball games, softball games, swim meets, dance recitals or plays.  In their adult years, he has been the best friend and confidant to his three children, and his constant phone calls and counsel will be sorely missed. Joe adored his two sons-in-law and daughter-in-law and adopted them immediately as part of the family.

Joseph shared forty-eight years with the love of his life, Janice.  They enjoyed numerous family vacations, children's sporting events, college football games, and many beautiful days on Buckroe Beach.  Their favorite thing to do together was to watch University of Memphis Basketball on television.  Joe adored his wife and always told her she was the "best woman in the world" and that no one "was cut from the same cloth" as her.

Joseph was extremely loyal and surrounded himself with friends from all backgrounds.  He remained close with all of the "cronies" from his childhood, many of whom have passed away over the years. He treasured all of the people he befriended throughout the stages of his life.  His friends knew they could always turn to him for advice and certainly a good time.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Julius Stellute; his mother, Susie Corrine Curtis and his half-brother, Thomas Crew.  He leaves behind his loving wife, Janice; his three children, Selena Glenn (Scott), Mario Stellute (Brittany) and Angela Ballard (Matt); grandchildren, Dorothy, Scott, Ethan and Owen; many cousins and countless friends and colleagues.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Saint Rose of Lima & Korean Martyrs Catholic Church at 2 p.m., and family will receive friends at 1 p.m in the Parish Commons.

The family would like to thank Dr. David Jared Kobulnicky of Virginia Oncology Associates for his utmost dedication and care for the past seven months.  In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Saint Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School at 14 N. Willard Avenue, Hampton, VA, 23663 or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org/givenow .

Funeral arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Hampton.