John C. “Johnny” Merritt, 45, of Ocilla, Georgia died Saturday, March 13, 2010, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 4 PM Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, GA with the Rev. Robert Merritt officiating. Interment will follow in Brushy Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Merritt was born in Ocilla, GA on February 8, 1965 to Dale Merritt and the late Phyllis Athena Jackson Merritt. A 1984 graduate of the Macon Academy for the Blind, he participated in Special Olympics and was named 1988 Olympian of the Year for the Georgia Special Olympics. He was of the Baptist faith and was an avid sports fan.. For the past three years, he lived in Valdosta, GA.
He is survived by his father and mother, Dale and Lou Merritt of Wray, GA; Brother, Emory Dale “Peanut” (Fran) Merritt, Jr. of Douglas, GA; Sisters, Katrina “Ka” (Joe) Burch of Wray, GA, Sandy (Stephen) Smith of Nichols, GA and Tonya (Tony) Brown of Snipesville, GA; Caregivers Teneeshia Foster and Shae Merritt of Valdosta, GA and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Along with his mother Phyllis, he was preceded in death by sister Samantha Jones.