A Life of Uplifting Others: Joe Murray’s Heart for Service

When you think about what it means to live the Northwest Way, Joseph Murray, service professional in Newnan, Georgia, immediately comes to mind. For Joe, our Core Values – Customers First, Do What is Right, Be Humble, Be Extraordinary, Move Forward – aren’t just words on paper; their values are ingrained in his DNA.

When Joe came in for his job interview, he and Service Center Manager Dave Horn had an instant connection, and Dave knew right away that Joe would be a perfect fit for Northwest. “The first couple of minutes after sitting down and talking to him, I thought, I don’t need to do anything else—I just pray your driving record is good, let’s do this!”

Joe’s genuine care for people is evident from the moment he steps onto a customer’s property. Each visit begins with a simple question: “What are we seeing?” While the question is intended to uncover pest concerns, the conversation often turns into a catch-up session between old friends. It doesn’t take long to realize that Joe isn’t just protecting homes, he’s building relationships. “They’re not just customers to Joe. Said office manager, Kayla Purcell. “He gets invited to cookouts, and to the kid’s birthday parties. They’re his extended family.”

He considers it a privilege to serve his customers, and many of them consider him to be family. For customer William Wilcox, he remembers their first meeting like it was yesterday. “Joe’s first visit was the day I was laid off from my job,” William shared. “I’ll never forget it. Before I knew it, we started talking, and Joe prayed with me right there on the spot. After he left, I remember feeling like everything was going to be okay.” As Mr. Wilcox reflected on that moment, tears filled his eyes. The service professional who once knocked on his door is now someone he calls a brother.

Joe’s personality is infectious, and it draws people in like bees to honey. His fun personality and positive energy make it nearly impossible to have a bad day around him. When asked what a bad day looks like, Joe smiled and said:

“I don’t think we have bad days. You may have a bad moment throughout the day, but what you do in that moment will define how you overcome it.” For Joe, it’s all about choices. Choosing to see golden opportunities rather than focusing on what went wrong.

Teammates experience Joe’s positive energy every day including his Good Deed Team co-ambassador, Savannah Casswell. She has worked with Joe for six months and says the best thing about working with Joe is his attitude. “He’s always upbeat and I really like his energy; he doesn’t let anything get him down. He’s just a positive person and it’s hard to have a bad day when you’re around him.”

Joe is the perfect example of serving with a servant’s heart. As Good Deed Team co-ambassador, he’s active in community initiatives. During a recent visit to Backpack Buddies, a Northwest community partner that provides food for students during school breaks, Joe naturally stepped into leadership. The team had the opportunity to deliver more than 50 bags filled with food to Ruth Hill Elementary School. On the morning of the delivery, Joe was coordinating vehicles, confirming volunteers, and ensuring the team arrived on time.

For Joe, giving back isn’t an obligation; it’s an opportunity. His personal volunteer resume includes everything from road clean ups, food banks, domestic violence shelters, and homeless shelters, and that list doesn’t include the volunteer work with his church Griffin Frist Assembly and his fraternal organization James E Acey Lodge 600 and Atlanta Consistory 24a.

Joe’s dedication to customers, teammates, and the community reflects who he is at his core: a man of faith, a family man, and someone who believes deeply in serving others. His giving heart shows up in quiet prayers on front porches, in food bags delivered with dignity, and teammates encouraged during tough times. In every moment, he chooses kindness over convenience. Joe’s legacy is measured in the lives he touches. He proves that extraordinary service isn’t about what you do; it’s about how deeply you care while doing it. For Joe Murray, serving others is part of his purpose.

Joe serves as an example to lead with a servant’s heart and with your eyes open to serve your team, customers, and community. By extending kindness, you’re not just touching the people you meet; you’re inspiring everyone to do the same a little more each day.