Built on Hard Work.
Rooted in Family.
Inspired by One Hell of a Man.

“Worky Worky.”

Ask Joel Mark Chaney what he was doing, and nine times out of ten, that was his answer.

“Worky Worky.”

Usually delivered with that unmistakable sense of humor, a little mischief in his eyes, and probably while he was doing three things at once.

It was just Joel being Joel.

But those two little words would eventually become something much bigger.

They became the name of a brand built to honor the man behind them and the hardworking people he understood so well, and every slogan on every T-shirt is one of his crazy, deep or meaningful sayings. Every T-shirt is Joel entirely...to a “T”.

Joel wasn’t a polished, buttoned-up, follow-the-rules kind of guy. He was a Southern original. Rugged around the edges, a little rebellious, occasionally inappropriate, and absolutely hilarious.

He could make you laugh when you didn’t feel like laughing. He could strike up a conversation with a complete stranger and leave with a new friend. He was intelligent, resourceful, fiercely independent, and never afraid to get his hands dirty.

He worked hard. Really hard.

He spent countless days away from home working, building, solving problems, and doing whatever needed to be done. He understood the sacrifices that come with making a living, providing for a family, and trying to build something better.

But here’s the thing about Joel.

As hard as he worked, he loved even harder.

Behind that rugged exterior was one of the most tenderhearted, generous men you could ever hope to meet.

Joel was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.

And if you needed his shoes, he’d probably hand those over, too.

He didn’t need to know your last name, where you came from, how much money you made, or what you believed. If you needed help and he could give it, he did.

No spotlight. No recognition. No expectation of getting anything in return.

That’s just who he was.

He believed people deserved a chance. He believed in lending a hand instead of looking the other way. And he had a special place in his heart for the underdog, the overlooked, and anybody trying to make something of themselves.

He wasn’t perfect.

Lord knows he wasn’t.

He could be stubborn, hardheaded, and just rebellious enough to keep life interesting.

But he was genuine.

What you saw was what you got. And what you got was one hell of a human being.

Above everything else, Joel was a family man.

He was a devoted husband, a proud daddy, and an adoring grandfather known as Pappy and Pagi. His family was his world, his greatest accomplishment, and the reason behind so much of what he worked for.

He loved deeply, protected fiercely, laughed loudly, and lived life on his own terms.

And although his life ended far too soon, the things that made him extraordinary didn’t end with it.

They became the foundation of something new.

Worky Worky.

Not just a clothing brand.

A little piece of Joel.

And a whole lot of what he stood for.

Some friendships are simply too special for words. For Joel Mark Chaney, one of those friendships came on four paws and answered to the name Punk.

Punk wasn’t just Joe’s dog. He was his sidekick, his traveling buddy, his coworker, his shadow, and his constant companion.

Together, they traveled across state lines, spent countless hours on job sites, and even worked on rooftops. Wherever Joe went, Punk was never far behind. Through long workdays, miles of highway, life’s adventures, and its everyday moments, they were a team.

Joe was a rugged, hardworking Southern man with a mischievous sense of humor and a heart of gold. And Punk? Well, Punk had found his person.

Their bond was built on something simple and extraordinary: unconditional love, unwavering loyalty, and the kind of companionship that asks for nothing but the privilege of being together.

But perhaps the most remarkable testament to their connection came on the day our world changed forever.

When something went terribly wrong with Joe, it was Punk who alerted me that something wasn’t right.

Even in those heartbreaking moments, his faithful companion was looking out for him.

That is a bond our family will never forget.

Today, Punk remains a living reminder of Joe’s tenderness, his love for animals, and the beautiful relationships that make life meaningful.

Their story is part of the heart behind both Worky Worky and the Joel Mark Chaney Legacy Foundation.

Because Joe taught us that loyalty matters, love comes in many forms, and sometimes the greatest friendships in life don’t require a single spoken word.

Joe and Punk. Two best friends. Countless miles. One extraordinary bond.

Some angels have wings. Others have four paws and follow you onto a roof.

Joel Mark Chaney was a man whose greatest accomplishment was not something he built, owned, or achieved. It was the way he loved people.

Born January 5, 1974, in Mountain View, California, but raised on the dirt roads of a small rural town in South Georgia, Joel built his life around his family, his work, his faith, and a deep instinct to help others. To his wife Rory, he was the love of her life, her anchor, protector, safe place, and the builder of her dreams. To his children, he was Daddy — patient, gentle, present, and endlessly proud. To his grandchildren, he was Pappy and Pagi, titles he treasured.

To his friends and community, he was the man who could walk into a room with a smile and leave people laughing, encouraged, and feeling a little better than before.

Rory first met Joel in 1997 on her front porch in Douglas, Georgia. He arrived barefoot and wearing cut-off khaki shorts, introduced himself with a simple, “Hey, I’m Joel,” and was immediately informed by Rory, “You’re late.” What began as an unexpected trip with friends became the beginning of a life together.

Somewhere between a terrible joke about two sausages frying in a pan and the moment Joel took Rory’s hand, kissed it, and told her, “I want to see you again,” she knew she had met someone extraordinary. By their second date, she had already told a close friend that Joel was the man she was going to marry.

That tenderness was not reserved for Rory. When Joel first met Rory’s 1½-year-old son Tyler, Tyler offered him a bite of a half-eaten, slobber-covered Tootsie Roll. Joel accepted without hesitation and made the little boy feel as though he had offered him something wonderful. It was a small moment, but it revealed the man Joel was: he met people where they were, received what they offered with kindness, and made them feel valued.

As a father, Joel led more by example than force. He was the soft-hearted parent, the coach who spent endless hours on the ball field, and the dad who would travel whatever distance was necessary to make a game. Chloe was his princess, fishing partner, lawnmower companion, and softball prodigy. Caleb shared his father’s sweet and gentle nature, learned to use tools at an early age, and became another source of tremendous pride.

Joel was deeply proud of all his children and of the adults they became. His love for his four grandchildren was just as powerful; as Rory described it, he was wrapped around four tiny fingers.

Joel’s compassion extended beyond his immediate family. When Rory’s mother was ill, he helped feed her, change her, comfort her, and make her laugh. Even in her weakness, she would find the strength to sit up when her “Jo-Jo” came home so she could receive one of his hugs. Joel became a rock for both women during that season and remained Rory’s strength through the years that followed.

He brought that same heart into his work and community. Joel was intelligent, wise, extraordinarily capable, and gifted with his hands. He loved his work and had a clear vision for restoring and beautifying downtown Hazlehurst. He could learn almost anything, yet rarely sought credit for what he accomplished.

He was a natural jokester, the life of the party, and a man who never met a stranger. He loved traveling with Rory, sharing a great meal, taking family vacations, coaching, working, and spending time with the people — and his beloved dog Punk — who made his life complete.

At the center of Joel’s life was a servant’s heart. He believed in people without pretense or condemnation. He treated people as equals. His faith was most visible not in what he said, but in how he lived: through loving kindness, integrity, perseverance, joy, generosity, and a willingness to help.

Joel passed away unexpectedly at his home in Hazlehurst on May 17, 2026, at the age of 52. His absence left an immeasurable space in the lives of the people who loved him, but his influence did not end that day.

The Joel Mark Chaney Legacy Foundation was created by Rory and their children so that the way Joel lived can continue to produce good in the lives of others. Its mission reflects Joel’s own life: remove barriers, encourage people, strengthen families, and give someone a chance to build a better future.

Joel spent his life investing in people. The foundation exists to keep that investment growing — one student, one family, one recovery, one opportunity, and one act of kindness at a time.

His family’s hope is simple: that the love Joel gave to his little tribe and to the world around him will keep multiplying for generations to come.

Worky Worky is a Southern-inspired apparel brand created for the hardworking, fun-loving, everyday Americans who keep this country moving.

The men and women who punch a clock, run a business, work the land, climb a ladder, turn a wrench, drive a truck, raise a family, or put in long hours doing whatever it takes.

The people whose hands tell stories.

Whose boots have seen better days.

Whose work ethic doesn’t disappear when the clock strikes five.

The ones who know the value of a dollar because they’ve worked their tails off to earn it.

But Worky Worky isn’t just about work.

It’s about everything we work for.

Family dinners. Backyard barbecues. Fishing trips. Dirt roads. Good music. Cold drinks. Old friends. New adventures. Laughing until your sides hurt.

It’s about loving your people, standing by your neighbors, being proud of where you come from, and never getting too big for your britches.

We believe you can be tough and tenderhearted.

Rugged and generous.

A little rebellious and still do a whole lot of good in this world.

Because Joel was living proof.

Our designs reflect that spirit.

A little vintage. A little rough around the edges. Sometimes funny. Sometimes bold. Sometimes deep and meaningful. Occasionally a little irreverent.

Never pretentious. Never ordinary. And never afraid to have a little fun.

Just like the man who inspired them.

When we lost Joel, we lost the heart of our family.

But we also knew that a man who spent his life helping others deserved a legacy that would continue doing exactly that.

Worky Worky was created by Joel’s family to celebrate his life, preserve his spirit, and carry forward the values he lived every single day.

Hard work. Family. Compassion. Generosity. Humor. Community.

And the simple belief that if you have the ability to help somebody, you ought to do it.

That same belief inspired the creation of the Joel Mark Chaney Legacy Foundation.

Through the foundation, our family intends to turn Joel’s lifelong generosity into lasting opportunities for others.

Our vision includes scholarships for students pursuing trade schools, technical programs, colleges, and universities; assistance for individuals and families facing hardship; treatment and support for chemical dependency, mental health needs, PTSD, and grief; and assistance for emergency and heart care programs. The foundation also seeks to create employment opportunities and practical pathways that help individuals and families build stronger futures.

As the foundation grows, so will the opportunities to make a difference.

Future programs may connect combat veterans and others in need with service dogs and emotional support animals.

Because Joel never limited his kindness to one kind of person or one kind of problem.

And neither do we intend to.

Worky Worky and the Joel Mark Chaney Legacy Foundation share the same inspiration and purpose: honoring a life well lived by doing some good for the people still living theirs.

Our hope is that the clothing we create will help tell his story, while the foundation helps carry his heart into the future.

We’re not trying to dress the country club.

We’re dressing the people who built it.

The roofers, mechanics, electricians, farmers, contractors, truck drivers, welders, small-business owners, and everyday working folks.

The dads who coach ball after a ten-hour shift.

The moms who somehow manage to do it all.

The grandparents who taught us the meaning of hard work.

The dreamers who start with nothing but an idea and the determination to make it happen.

The people who love their families, their communities, their country, and their freedom.

The people who might be a little rough around the edges but have hearts of gold.

And the ones who know that life is too short to take every damn thing so seriously.

Those are our people.

And if that sounds like you, welcome to the family.

We’re building Worky Worky around the same principles Joel lived by.

Be genuine. Work hard. Love your family. Treat people right. Help when you can. Stand up for what matters. Laugh often.

And don’t be afraid to raise a little hell every now and then.

We want every Worky Worky design to have personality, character, and a story worth telling.

Because this brand was never meant to be just another name on a shirt.

It was meant to represent a way of life.

A life where hard work and a good heart still mean something.

We wish Joel could see what his two little words have become.

We can almost hear him laughing about it.

He’d probably shake his head, crack a joke, and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Then he’d roll up his sleeves and get right back to doing what he always did.

“Worky Worky.”

Those words make us smile a little differently now.

They remind us of the husband, father, grandfather, friend, and remarkable man we were blessed to love.

They remind us to keep going, keep building, keep laughing, and keep helping.

And they remind us that while we cannot change how his story ended, we can make damn sure it keeps being told.

So here’s to the hardworking.

The tenderhearted.

The rule breakers.

The dream chasers.

The family lovers.

The generous souls.

And the good ol’ boys and girls who still believe in doing right by people.

Here’s to Joel.

The man. The myth. The mischief. The heart behind Worky Worky.