David Thomas Johnson, 86, of Tifton passed away Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Fellowship Home in Valdosta. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2026, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kenny Miller officiating. A eulogy will be given by Rev. BJ Funk. Mr. Johnson will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 2, 2026, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
John Tucker, Vince Funk, Ronnie Greer, Chad Smith, and Scott Carlson will serve as pallbearers.
Mr. Johnson was born in Tifton on September 9, 1939, to the late David Clarence Johnson and Nancy Walker Johnson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Frances and Bobby Watson and Emma Jean and Mike Burgess; and one brother, Mike Johnson.
Before retiring, he was the newspaper production manager for The Tifton Gazette. After retiring from that position, he was a paraprofessional at Tift County High School. He was a member of Tifton Primitive Baptist Church.
Mr. Johnson was a loving husband, who loved his family and friends. His favorite title was “Grandpa”. He could be found most evenings at Chicago’s Pizza and Pasta, where the staff was like family and the friends were plentiful.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Suzanne Carter Johnson of Tifton; three daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly Johnson Fernandez and her husband, Al, of Canton, Cindy Johnson Stone and her husband, Todd, of Albany and Kathy Johnson Posey and her husband, Jamie, of Roswell;; five grandchildren and their spouses, Jason and Haley Stone, Sarah and Michael Golden, Ashley Fernandez, Elizabeth and Preston Cohen and Jackson Posey; ten great-grandchildren, Eleanor Aselton, Melanie Cohen, Logan Cohen, Ethan Cohen, Samuel Cohen, Caroline Stone, Luke Stone, Whitley Golden, Grant Golden and Titus Golden; and five nieces and their husbands, Becky and Michael Massey, Amy Waldrop and Cass Burch, Abbey and Brian Jack, Debbie and Paul Marchant and Robin and Jerry Williams; and one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Danny and Pam Carter of Albany.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to Peanut Butter and Jesus, 91 Springhill Church Road, Tifton, GA 31794; or Called to Care, P. O. Box 2396, Tifton, GA 31793.