Joseph Barton Curl

Joseph Barton Curl, aged 75, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. Joe’s passing was sudden, leaving family and friends in shock. Joe Curl was born on October 7, 1949, in Savannah, Georgia. Joe was the son of Herman Amos Curl and Kathryn Madora Burnham. He is survived by his only child, Amanda Aicha Laurent, a multitude of very close cousins, a stepbrother, Greg Edwards, and several nieces and nephews.

Joe attended Western Carolina University, studying psychology, and later earned a culinary arts certificate in Raleigh. Joe was a Southern Gentleman who spent most of his life in Georgia and the Carolinas, but traveled as far west as Denver and Montana, and south to Mexico where he taught special Education. He even traveled to Europe at a young age and eventually returned to marry his daughter’s mother, Samira Yahya Curl in Fez, Morocco. Some would say Joe was born a wandering man and had a gypsy soul.

Joe Curl lived a full life, filled with travel, adventure, good food, dancing, and a love for life. By trade, Joe was a professional gourmet chef. His artistic talents are shown through in his beautiful fruit and vegetable carvings, ice sculptures, and an unforgettable seasonal labor of love, the cornucopia. He loved Cajun, Southern, and French cuisine. He enjoyed many different types of music including the blues, classic rock, and bluegrass. He loved swing and shag dancing. He loved watching his favorite teams, the Denver Broncos and his Carolina Tar Heels.

When he wasn’t showing off his culinary talents or twirling the ladies around on the dance floor, you would find him off the beaten path on a mountain trail camping or kayak fishing. Joe loved to dance, to write stories and poetry, and he loved nature. He cared deeply for everyone who crossed his path. Joe lived a unique life and made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He will be deeply missed by all…

A Memorial Service for Joe Curl will be announced and held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following nonprofit organizations in memory of Joseph Curl and his abundant love for nature:

Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/

Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/

Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/

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