Joshua Nichols Jordan, 40, of Raleigh died Tuesday September 17, 2019 of an accidental heroin overdose. He was born in Raleigh on September 26, 1978 to Walter Edward Jordan, Jr. and Oppie Nichols Jordan. Josh was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Walter Edward Jordan and Helen Thompson Jordan, and maternal, Wyman Nichols and Eva Dowd Nichols.

In addition to his parents, survivors include his daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Jordan and her mother, Mitzi Jordan of Raleigh; brothers Robert Lindsay Jordan, John Paul Womble, and Walter Edward Jordan III all of Raleigh; sister Renee Rizzi (Dan) of Florida; two nephews, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones.

Josh worked for a time as an EMT and 911 Dispatcher. He also worked in the insurance industry for a brief period. Josh almost completed school to become a registered nurse. He had so much potential and the possibilities were endless as to what he could do, but the disease of addiction had other plans for him. For nearly twenty years, Josh struggled with addiction. He was clean for months at a time. During those periods, he was loving and kind, caring and generous. He was jovial and outgoing. He always loved helping people and would literally give you the shirt off his back. If you met him, you liked him. He had personality and charisma. He was always smiling and laughing and anyone around him smiled and laughed too. He spent quality time with his daughter.

Each time he relapsed, the disease of addiction would take Josh away from his family. Sporadically over the years, it would cause him to lose jobs, his marriage, custody of his daughter, friendships, his home, vehicles, and money. His family did everything they knew to help Josh fight, but he always ended up face to face with the monster. He won many battles over the years, but on September 17, 2019, he lost the fight to a heroin overdose.

His siblings are left without a brother, parents are left without a son, his sixteen-year-old daughter without a father. His daughter's mother is left alone to try and make sense of it all for their daughter and help her carry on as her father would want. All that is left are the precious memories of Josh and who he was as a human being and the times when he was winning. There is a void that will never be filled all due to a disease. See, addiction does not discriminate. It doesn't matter your race, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. There is no cure, but there is treatment.

Josh will never be able to share his personal experience, strength and hope – so we his entire family – are committed to making his life matter.

…. If you are struggling … please get help. We love our Josh, and we beg you to get help … your family loves you, too!

A funeral service will be held Saturday, September 21 at 2:00PM at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. A private burial service will follow.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Healing Transitions 1251 Goode St. Raleigh, NC 27603 in memory.