Lynn Johnson

Lynn Johnson, 68, a long-time resident of Brantley, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 16th, 2024 at Crenshaw Community Hospital. Funeral services for Lynn will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, March 19th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Brother Charles Box officiating and Brother Ricky Bagents offering the eulogy. Interment will follow in Sasser Cemetery with Brother Jeff Grimes officiating and Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 12 to 2 PM.

Lynn was a proud graduate of Dozier High School and then continued his academic career at Auburn, where he earned his Bachelor's of Science in Education. More importantly (to him at least), was that he was also a member of the Auburn Tigers football team from 1973 to 1977. He starred on the offensive line as a vital part of the Team of a Decade. He was also beyond proud to have been chosen for the James Ralph "Shug" Jordan Award, which was awarded to a single collegiate scholar/athlete who demonstrates impressive leadership, service, scholastic accomplishments, and athletic ability. He was also named All-SEC Offensive Lineman during his time at Auburn as he opened holes for three future NFL running backs. One of the greatest experiences in his life, was the 40th Anniversary Celebration held for the 1976 team at Auburn which included him leading the Tiger Walk to the stadium, an on-field recognition ceremony, and a pregame autograph session.

After college, Lynn decided to go into the logging industry and he stayed with it for over 40 years until his retirement. That carried over into how much he enjoyed working with wood in his personal time. He truly had a gift for woodworking and could craft some of the most beautiful chairs, swings, benches, and tables you have ever seen. In fact, there are many lucky residents of Crenshaw County who now own one of his pieces and will continue to relish its beauty for many more years to come. Obviously, he was one of the hardest workers you could ever meet. There were few places he'd rather be than the Smoky Mountains with his love to travel. He was also a faithful member of Sasser Church of Christ for all of his life. In his free time, Lynn loved to hunt and was an avid Auburn alumnus & fan throughout his life. Over the years, he took up various hobbies like golf, and he was the kind of person that when he got interested in something, he went all in! Otherwise, he could usually be found around the house, "just piddlin" around, whether it was riding around with his faithful canine companion, Pede, or having competitions with his sister to see who could build the bigger fire...one thing where his tendency to go all in didn't always work out in his favor!

In the 1990s, Lynn had one of his most enjoyable "jobs," when he volunteered as the offensive line coach at Brantley High School for several years. He loved working with Roland Jones Sr, with whom their team won the state championship in 1993, and, later, Scott Leslie, with whom he became great friends. It was a natural position for someone who loved working with children as much as Lynn did. He simply had a natural affinity for them and delighted in their love of the simple pleasures in life and excitement with every new experience. It's no surprise that he eventually came to play Santa Claus for the area schoolchildren and various photographers from 2017 until 2023. His own grandchildren considered him the "real Santa Claus," as did most of the children who met him because his love of people simply shone through him.

Above all, Lynn was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. There was nothing better for him than when he was able to marry his childhood and high school sweetheart, Dianne Kelsoe, in 1975. She was truly the love of his life and there was never a day that his eyes did not light up whenever she entered a room. Together they proudly raised their beloved girls to be wonderful members of their community. Even better, they eventually made him a "Pops" to their four children and that was absolutely the highlight of his life. He doted on all of them with everything he had, and showed that same love and devotion as an uncle to multiple generations of nieces and nephews who adored him. They all learned so much from Lynn during his life. He taught them a true love of their fellow man and to always approach everything with a phenomenal sense of humor, a valuable lesson in how not to take life too seriously and handle all the slings and arrows of life with a good perspective. Those are qualities that are more priceless than gold and will be a part of his legacy that will live on through his loved ones for many more years to come. They will especially find comfort in all of the memories of all the sayings and adventures that continue to fill their hearts and minds with riotous laughter.

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe & Elizabeth Raines Johnson, and brother, Allen Johnson. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of almost 49 years, Dianne Kelsoe Johnson; their daughters and sons-in-law, Courtney & Mark Morrow and Lacy & Jessie Taylor; grandchildren, Luke Johnson, Zack Johnson, AJ Taylor, and Lynlee Taylor; siblings, Jimmy (Linda) Johnson and Debra (Rex) Wallace; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Jessie Taylor, Luke Johnson, Zack Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Adam Wallace, and Parker Wallace.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations to the Sasser Cemetery Fund.