Harry "Gene" Johnson

Harry “Gene” Johnson

Mitchell, GA  –           Harry “Gene” Johnson, 87, husband to the late Amelia “Grace” Johnson, entered  into his eternal rest Saturday evening, January 4, 2020 at Augusta University Medical Center. Funeral services to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday afternoon, January 9, 2020 at Mitchell Methodist Church with the Reverends Mary Griswell and Jacky Downs officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Mitchell Cemetery.

One of eight children of the late Lizzie Ellen Parrish Johnson and the late Edward Steve Johnson, Gene was born and raised in Mitchell and was a lifelong resident of Glascock County.  After graduating from Glascock County Consolidated School and being a staunch patriot, he proudly served our country by joining the Air Force and serving during the Korean War. Upon his return home, he met and married the love of his life.  They both worked at Stapleton Garment Company, where he was a sewing machine mechanic for 45 years, retiring when the plant closed. As a young man, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and served Him as a member of Mitchell Baptist Church.  He loved music and being a talented pianist who played by ear with no formal training, he played the piano for both the Baptist and Methodist churches in Mitchell. In his younger years, Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing; and in his later years, he could be found watching TV—westerns, Sanford and Son, and Braves baseball. Being an avid Atlanta Braves fan, he found great joy watching the Braves play what he considered to be the greatest sport—baseball.  Gene also liked to watch the news and read his newspaper—he wanted to keep up with current events and what was going on in the country and the community.  Gene also loved eating fish sandwiches at Scott’s Diner, where he would meet his friends and keep up with the “goings on” in town. A quiet, unassuming man, he was described as being very private, having a laid-back attitude, and a man who enjoyed being at home.  A man of integrity, he was a loving husband, devoted father and loyal friend.  His loving spirit will be greatly missed but we are comforted that he is now in his eternal home in Heaven.

Gene was also preceded in death by his siblings, Everett Johnson, Glynn Johnson, Margaret Wilcher and Eunice Wilcher. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Harriet Ann Johnson Poole (Thomas); three siblings, Mattie Price (Jay), Geneva Kitchens (Don) and Ollie Cooper (Teddy); five grandchildren, Jason Parrish, Tabby Padgett (Doodle), Tonya Oundo (Steve), Teresa Parrish (Matt) and Beth Powell; five great grandchildren, Jacob Pittman, Caleb Pittman, Easton Pittman, Mason Padgett and Sam Oundo; his long-time companion, Betty Rogers and her daughters, Ginger Taylor and Dianne Edenfield; church family and friends.  Serving as pallbearers will be Kyle Downs, Buck Parrish, Frank Parrish, Jason Parrish, Paul Parrish and Jacob Pittman. Honorary pallbearers will be his great grandsons, Kendall Chalker, Leon Evans, Anthony Griswell, Jacky Haywood, Bobby Jones, Larry Tucker and Arthur Yarborough.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday evening, January 8, 2020.