William "Carl" Johnson

Mr. William “Carl” Johnson, age 83, of Kingsland passed away early Monday morning (3/21/22) at Southeast Georgia Health Systems Brunswick Campus following an extended illness.

Born December 20, 1938 in Patterson, Georgia, Carl, as he was affectionately known, grew up on a farm with thirteen siblings. In his early years, he lived and worked as a meat cutter for Food Fair in Fernandina Beach, Florida before moving to the mountains of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina in 1973.  He worked in logging and construction business for 40 years, before retiring to Kingsland in 2010 to live near his sister, Kate.

Carl was actively engaged in the music profession all his adult life, playing guitar, harmonica and base. He and special friend, Leon Shelton, started a Gospel, Blue Grass, and Country Jam Session on Friday nights at Lake Toxaway Community Center that drew crowds of people near and far.

Following retirement to Kingsland, he was involved with the Woodbine Opry on Friday nights where he continued his love of playing and singing for crowds of people. He became special friends though the Woodbine Opry with Dr. Bill Garlen and his wife Virginia.

Carl was also working on something in construction. His last construction job in April 2021 was building a porch for Dr. Bill and Virginia Garlen so all the musicians could gather monthly on Monday nights on the porch to play music and entertain their friends.

He loved all his family, his nieces and nephews, and loved to teach singing and playing guitar to the younger family members and students. He enjoyed entertaining and being the center of attention. Well known for always getting to know people and where they were born and come from, he wanted everyone to be related to him.  He was “always loved and will forever be in our hearts and memories”.

Preceding him in death were his parents, William Hansford and Irma Viola Winn Johnson; brothers, Earl (Elouise) Johnsons, Ephraim Johnson, Harry Johnson, and Ray Johnson; and 2 sisters, Mildred (Alan) Davis, and Irene (Ben) Mulkey.

Survivors include his special companion, Connie Yatzor of Kingsland; 2 sons, Dean Johnson (wife Linda) of Orange Park, FL and Dan Johnson of Brevard, N.C.; 3 grandchildren, Chantry Johnson (wife Alicia) of Charlotte, N.C., Natasha Johnson of Brevard, N.C., and Michael Ardolino of Orange Park, FL.; 2 great grandchildren, Hadden Johnson and Kodi Searcy; his brothers and sisters, Alvin Johnson (wife Betty) of Patterson, Linnie Arpen (husband Ron) of Jacksonville, FL, Louise Register (husband Gene) of Homerville, GA, Lee Johnson (wife MaryAnn) of San Antonio, TX, Clyde Johnson (wife Brenda) of Blackshear, Kate Johnson of Jacksonville, FL, and Annie Belle Griffis (husband Sid) of Blackshear; sister-in-law, Marie Johnson of Patterson; and  numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A funeral service will take place Thursday morning (3/24/22) at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Hart Funeral Home with Elder Alvin Johnson and Dr. Bill Garlen officiating. Burial will follow in the New Home Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday morning one hour prior to the service.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com. 

Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.