Neal Swann Johnston, Sr. - spry2
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Neal
Swann Johnston, Sr. passed away on February 21, 2023, surrounded by his family.
“Big Neal” was born on August 16, 1934, in Athens, Alabama at his boyhood home
on Elkton Road. After graduating from Athens High School in 1952, he followed
in the footsteps of his older brother, Sidney, by attending Georgia Tech. A year later, he was drafted into the Army
with one of his best friends and eventual business partner, John Johnson. Neal
spent a year in Korea serving in the
military police. He returned to Alabama and enrolled in the Alabama
Polytechnical Institute—Auburn. Neal
graduated from Auburn in 1959 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He cherished and maintained many of his high
school and college relationships throughout his life.
After
college, with little money to their name and with no idea about what they
wanted to do with their lives, Neal and John took out a small loan from Neal’s
mother, Margie, and bought into a gasoline business. Several years later they
acquired a propane business, and convinced Malone Johnson, John’s brother, to
join the company. This was the beginning of J&J Oil. These three men built
and expanded the company for the next 58 years, until the last holdings were
sold in 2017. In 2009, at the 50th Anniversary of J&J, the City
of Athens honored Neal, John, and all of J&J’s employees by giving them
keys to the city and declaring it “J&J Day.” Whatever their accomplishments
or setbacks, Neal’s main concern was always the employees of J&J. He
considered many of them like family. They all built and sustained the company
for over 55 years, a rarity today, and none of it would have happened without
those dedicated employees.
Neal
was elected president of the Alabama LP Gas Association in 1984, and served as
director, vice-president, and chairman of many committees over the years. He
was past-president of the Athens High School Booster Club, member of the
Progress Club, a past director of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of
Commerce, and a past chairman of the board of Athens-Limestone Bank. Neal was an active member of the First
Christian Church of Athens where he served as a deacon.
Neal’s
true love went back to his roots, the farm on Elkton Road, and he eventually
purchased a farm and moved to Stella, Tennessee. When he slowed down at work,
that was his place. Neal “piddled” with cows, horses, broken fences, trucks,
and tractors. He was a natural horse-trader, buying and selling horses at a
rapid clip. He enjoyed the process more than anything else, and he loved the
horse sales. He also loved his weekend horse rides with friends, and he spent
most of his time laughing at the stories told on those trail rides. Neal rode horses until the last few months of
his life.
Above
all, Neal’s character made him. He was a worker until he died; there was no
ditch that he would not dig or stall he would not clean. He had a legion of
friends. People confided and trusted Neal. He was also empathetic and caring.
Neal had this unique and innate ability to understand people, and he listened
more than he talked. Neal treated everyone with respect and dignity, and he led
by example.
Neal
is survived by his four children: daughter Sally Johnston Shelly, her husband
Mitch Shelly and grandchildren Mitchell Johnston Shelly and Harriet Swann
Shelly; son Neal Swann Johnston Jr., his wife Patti Martin Johnston, and
grandchildren Jacob Neal Johnston and Shelby Lee Johnston; daughter Genie Johnston
Woodroof, her husband Charles Chadwick Woodroof, and grandchildren Foster
Chadwick Woodroof and Johnston Murray Woodroof; son Keith Arnold Johnston; and
significant other, Leshia Bacon. Neal was preceded in death by his parents
Albert Sidney Johnston and Margie Swann Johnston; brother Thomas Sidney
Johnston; and daughter-in-law Kim Behel Johnston.
The
Johnston family will receive friends on Friday, March 3 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at First Christian Church, 400 West Market Street, Athens, Alabama.
A
Memorial Service will be held at First Christian Church on Saturday, March 4 at
1:00 p.m. with Pastor Clint Coffey officiating.
In
lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider making a donation in memory of
Neal Swann Johnston, Sr. to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 966, Athens,
Alabama 35612 or Peace, Love and Animals, 19135 Nuclear Plant Road, Tanner,
Alabama 35671.
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1 comment
Reflecting back over the past few years, I am so grateful to God Almighty for bringing brother Sutton into my life.
A few poignant memories of brother Sutton, begin with a man who foremost was committed to serving the Lord. Always a good teacher (by words, deeds, even in silence) throughout the time I knew him. If anyone ever needed a smile, they could look to brother Jerry as his seemed to be perpetual and was often accompanied with his lighthearted stories. He loved people, especially children. He loved his family dearly. He was ever thoughtful of others, while quietly enduring his personal challenges of declining health.
If we remember nothing else, brother Sutton exemplified a man who knew where eternal riches are stored. He held firm to his uncompromising convictions to share God's word with whomever would listen.
He is my brother in Christ, he is my friend and he left each who knew him untold riches to share as did he.