Joshua A. Purnell was born on 11/13/1953, the son of Doris J. Boykins and Eddie L. Purnell.  He was a Mason for 20 years and was a graduate of Penns Grove High School in NJ 1971.  He joined the Army in 1972 after graduating High School. After his Military career in 1977 Joshua began an amazing career in construction, after 10 years of working with various construction companies, Joshua started his own construction company called Big Daddy's Construction.  Big Daddy's Construction created several elementary schools in the South Jersery area and in other countries such as Dubai and Canada.  Joshua also had a fond love of music in which he played the drums as often as he could at Holy Temple Church.

Joshua is survived by his wife Zara Purnell and daughter Doris Purnell of Elkton, MD; sibling, sister Mary L. Woody of Bear, DE and several nephews, nieces, cousins and his Mason family.

A celebration of Joshua's Life, with Mason Honors will be held at 11a.m. Saturday November 24, 2018 at Cherry Hill United Methodist Church 33 Elton Mills Road, Elkton, MD, where visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Private interment will be in Gilpin Manor Memorial Park, Elton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church or to Cherry Hill United Methodist Church, in care of Hicks Home For Funerals, 103 W Stockton Street, Elkton, MD 21921