Mr. Willei "Joe" Yung was born Wing Heap Yung in the Village of Nan Fu Liao, County of Xin Hui, Province of Guang Dong, China on September 23, 1895. When he was 14, Yung traveled to Canada with his father and worked at various jobs for a number of years. After six years in Canada, Yung returned to his village in China and married his childhood sweetheart, Zhao Ru Xing; and during the next several years, Yung and his wife had three children. His two youngest children died at an early age (a newborn son, and Yew Yee Yung at age 17). About 1930, Yung left his family in China, went to Canada, and then to the small community of Rena Lara, Mississippi, where he purchased and operated his own community general grocery store. During his 37 years at Rena Lara, Yung became a well-respected successful businessman, a strong, positive supporter of the community, and a faithful and active member of Rena Lara Baptist Church; and during his many years at Rena Lara, he was many things to many people. He was a real friend and a good neighbor. But to many he was much more than that. To some Yung was a banker--cashing checks, lending money to pay farm workers in order to save a trip to town, giving credit for supplies and even lending money to make crops. To others he was a provider--giving credit for groceries and household needs, sometimes paying utility bills for neighbors before the "cut-off" man came. And quite often he could be seen feeding people who happened in around noon and had not eaten. And to all he was the Good Samaritan--always helping anybody at any place anytime. On July 18, 1967, Willie "Joe" Yung retired and went to Hong Kong. He became ill and died in Hong Kong on April 16, 1981, at the age of 85. Yung was cremated in accordance with his wishes and years later his ashes were buried in Forrest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
The Mississippi Legislature passed a concurrent resolution commending and memorializing the life and legacy of Willie "Joe" Yung, a successful businessman and esteemed citizen of the community of Lena Lara, Mississippi, for over 37 years. Mississippi Senator Delma Furniss was designated to represent the Mississippi legislature in presenting the resolution to the family members of Willie "Joe" Yung on the occasion of a special program at the Rena Lara Homecoming at Rena Lara, Mississippi on Saturday, July 27, 2002.