Joe Rivers was born on June 16, 1953 in Dorchester County, South Carolina to the late Artlee Whilmenia Rivers-Williams and James Dandridge. He went peacefully to live with his Savior on July 30, 2017 at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Pastor Rivers received his education from the Dorchester public school system. On July 30, 1975, he was united in holy matrimony to the late Miss Mary Deloris Moore. From this union, they became the proud parents of Sarah Rivers-Thomason and Ashley Rivers.

He was employed at Colleton County School District until his retirement in December 2016.

Pastor Rivers realized that he needed a Savior, so he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and joined Ridgeville, New Jerusalem Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc. Some years later he heard the call of God to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he answered. He pastored the following places and churches: Andrews, New Bethany, Awendaw, St. Mark, Pee Dee, St. Luke, and Salters, St. Mark Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas. At time of his passing Pastor Rivers was the pastor of St. James Fire Baptized Holiness Church in Midway, South Carolina.

He traveled up and down the roads of South Carolina to be obedient to the call of God. Pastor Rivers was truly a man of great character and loved the Lord with all his heart one of God's gentle servants. The life he preached was the life he lived. Pastor Rivers knew how to talk to all he met.

He had two siblings to precede him in death Shirley Mae Gardener and Lindell Williams

Pastor Rivers homegoing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him and who now remain to cherish lasting memories his daughters, Sarah Rivers-Thomason(To'Mell) and Ashley Rivers, one grandson Tyler Thomason of Waterboro, SC. His surviving siblings Pastor Mattie Lee Felder (Eugene) of Ridgeville, SC; Deaconess Emma Jean Morton (Raymond) of Ridgeville, SC; Evang. Irene Lemon (Allen) of Ridgeville, SC; Ruthie Richardson (Kevin) of Summerville, SC; Darleasia Williams of Ridgeville, SC; one brother Bruce Williams (Nancy) of Ridgeville, SC. Three sisters-in-law Minnie Gethers (Fred) of Walterboro, SC; Annie M. Moore of New York, Pauline Adams of New Jersey; one brother-in-law Willie James Moore (Ella) of Walterboro, SC a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and the entire Charleston District of the FBH Church