Maner “Mike” Carl Johnston, 78, of Tifton died Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at New River Baptist Church in Tifton with Rev. Gerald Purvis officiating. Mr. Johnston will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 19, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Canaan Carr, Rebel Lord, Ricky Lord, Benny Hall, Alan Johnston, Donnie Childers, Greg Davis and Wayne Davis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of New River Baptist Church in Tifton, members of the Seekers Sunday school class at New River Baptist Church in Tifton, Webb Johnston, Andrew Denmark, Mac Wilder and nephews.
Mr. Johnston was born July 8, 1936 in Tifton and was the son of Andrew Trent Johnston and Allie Morris Johnston, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. He was retired from the Coastal Plains Experiment Station and was a member of New River Baptist Church in Tifton. Mr. Johnston was retired as Command Sergeant Major in the Georgia Army National Guard and served during the Gulf War.
Mr. Johnston is survived by his wife, Marion Hall Johnston of Tifton; his children and their spouses, Melanie Johnston Carr of Dudley, Myles and Deania Johnston of Dudley, Maria J. and Ricky Lord of Dublin and Michael and Amy Johnston of Lilburn; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Benny and Bonnie Johnston of Tifton and Pete and Mary Alice Johnston of Stockbridge; one sister, Lola Davis of Tifton; eleven grandchildren, Canaan Carr, Mycah Carr, Christian Carr, Autumn Jennings, Rebel Lord, Tori Lord, Beth-Anne Johnston, Allie Johnston, Eric Johnston, Larkin Johnston and Lucy Johnston; and one great-grandchild, Samuel Jennings.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the American Cancer Society, 323 Pine Avenue, Suite 100, Albany, GA 31701.