Leroy Hall Johnson

Mr. Leroy Hall Johnson, of Turin, Georgia, passed away on November 8, 2013. He was born to the late Rhodes Hall & Nancy Bowers Johnson, on September 8, 1916, in Turin, Georgia. One of five children, he was raised on a cattle farm which later became a productive peach orchard. He graduated from Starr High School and attended West Georgia College. Leroy was married for 74 years to his childhood sweetheart, Ella Hill Brown Johnson. He was a successful farmer and business man. He started the Turin Manufacturing Co. which made and sold concrete blocks across the Southeast. Leroy was a member of Turin Baptist church where he served as deacon and treasurer. He was a long time member of the Senoia Lions Club and the Cattleman’s Association, where he served as president for both organizations. He was also a charter member of the Cattleman’s Association. He was a strong supporter and member of the Coweta County 4-H programs and a trustee of the Starr High Board of Education. He had a strong personal commitment to Coweta County through his service on the Turin City Council and as a Coweta County Commissioner for 38 years where he served as Chairman of the Board for many of those years. He succeeded his father, Rhodes H. Johnson, as commissioner. As a Commissioner, he was a leader in the development of the county water system and instrumental in preserving the B.T. Brown Reservoir to meet the future water demands of Coweta County. He was a strong supporter of the recreational programs, fire department, and ambulance service for all of Coweta County. He also helped develop the Shenandoah Industrial Park in order to help balance the tax base for the county, and he worked to solve critical solid waste disposal problems to meet the federal health and safety requirements. Coweta County and the state of Georgia benefited from his leadership roles and many years of service as president and board member of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. He received the Association’s Distinguished Service Award for dedication and service to all the counties of Georgia. More important to Leroy than all of his accolades was his desire to be remembered as a loving family member and a loyal and a faithful friend to all. Leroy is survived by his wife, Ella Hill, and his three daughters, Corille and husband, Clark Hudson, Jane and husband, Ned Chambless, and Leroyce and husband, Gary Wright. He has eight grandchildren: Tom Hudson and wife Christi, Cheryl Mitcham and husband, Link, Amy Riley and husband, Lee, Lori Drake and husband, Taylor, Russell Chambless and wife, Carrie, Josh Wright, Jarrod Wright and wife, Margaret, and Maggie Wright. He had 12 great-grandchildren. Leroy was affectionately called “Pops” by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services are by McKoon Funeral Home at 38 Jackson Street in Newnan. Visitation with the family will be on Monday, November 11, 2013 between 5:00 and 8:00PM. The funeral service will be Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 11:00AM in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home with Rev. John McDuffie and Dr. Joel Richardson officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Johnson’s memory may be acknowledged by flowers or memorial contributions to the Turin Baptist Church, P.O. Box 99, Turin, Georgia 30289 or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org or 1-800-227-2345 ext.2.

Leroy Hall Johnson

September 8, 1916 - November 8, 2013