Allen Simmons Johnson, Jr., 89, of Tifton passed away Sunday, December 5, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2004, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe and the Rev. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III officiating.
Kenny Brownlee, Bob Lee, Michael Brooks, Chris Brooks, Wally Colwell, Michael Franks, Buddy Bowen and Buddy Kulbersh served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the members of the Tifton Rotary Club, Emerson Hoffman and members of the Frank Raley Sunday School Class at Tifton's First Baptist Church.
Born April 17, 1915, in Desoto, Mr. Johnson was the son of the late Allen Simmons Johnson, Sr. and Lucille Scott Johnson. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Carey Van Johnson. Mr. Johnson moved from Desoto to Orlando, Florida, where he graduated from Orlando High School in 1933. He attended the University of Florida and was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He moved to Tifton in 1935 to help his father build Tifton Lumber company. He later became manager and in 1941, became the sole owner. He retired after 46 years.
Mr. Johnson was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church and the Frank Raley Sunday School Class. He was past president and owner of Tifton Lumber Company, past president of Independent Investors Inc. and president of Space Control Corporation. He was past director of Tifton Lumber Company, Smith Lumber Company, Flint Homes Inc. and East Albany Lumber Company.
He was an honorary Rotarian from 1941 to 1944 while a scoutmaster for the Rotary-sponsored Boy Scout troop, where he was also an Eagle Scout himself. He became a regular member of the Rotary Club in 1968. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and was selected Rotarian of the year in 2000. He was a director for seven years and was secretary for four years and served as president from 1974 to 1975. He was also a former member of the Lions Club and was a mason with the Masonic Lodge, having been recently honored as a 50-year Masonic member. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge.
He was past director of the Building Material Merchants Association of Georgia, past secretary and past president of South Georgia Building Material Association, Board of Governers of Southeastern Retail Coal Association, served on the National Affairs Committee for the National Lumber Association and was past president of Penn Paint, Inc. he was past president of the Georgia Senior Gold Association. He served as treasurer, secretary and president of Amelia by the Sea Condo Association in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Mr. Johnson was one of the founders of the Natala Corporation and served as secretary-treasurer for over 40 years.
His hobbies in earlier years were woodworking, golf and hunting. He was also a veteran of the United States Army.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793; or Tifton's First Baptist Church, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pauline Connor Johnson of Tifton; one son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Karin Johnson; two daughters and one son-in-law, Jan and Kenny Brownlee and Carol Dunn; nine granddaughters and their husbands, Becky B. and Bob Lee, Kim B. and Wally Colwell, Mandy B. and Chris Brooks, Amy D. and Michael Brooks, Krista Dunn, Debbie Dunn, Vaness J. and Michael Franks, Lisa Johnson and Amanda Johnson; and five great-grandchildren, John Michael Brooks, Julie Ann Brooks, Jackson Lee, John Austin Lee and Kennedy Brooks.