Mercer University to hold memorial service Jan. 23 for 'Papa Joe' Hendricks

Mercer University will hold a public memorial service in January for longtime faculty member and administrator Joseph M. Hendricks.

The service is set for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Willingham Auditorium on the Macon campus.

Hendricks died Dec. 19 at the age of 81.

Affectionately known as "Papa Joe," Hendricks was an instrumental figure during the civil rights movement and was credited with helping to bring Mercer's first black student, Sam Oni, to campus in 1963, according to a university news release.

A 1955 graduate of Mercer's College of Liberal Arts, Hendricks served the university for more than 40 years and was an ambassador for the university in his retirement.

The memorial service will be available for viewing via a live stream on the university's website, according to a news release. A reception will be held in Newton Chapel following the service.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Mercer University to hold memorial service Jan. 23 for 'Papa Joe' Hendricks ."