Johnny Mack Driskill

Johnny Mack Driskill, 85, passed away Friday, September 18. He was a resident of Indian Springs Village. Born in Dawson (DeKalb County), Ala., December 14, 1929 to Claude and Margaret Driskill, he lived in the Birmingham area most of his life. A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, he graduated from Ensley High School and attended the University of Alabama . Radio broadcasting was his first love; he began his broadcasting career as an announcer at radio station WBRC-AM in Birmingham, and worked for local stations WVOK and WSGN using the on-air professional names Johnny Mack and Mark Leigh. Over the years he managed stations in Alabama and Georgia and received awards for outstanding achievements in both work and civic organizations. He met his wife Carolyn at a street dance sponsored by WVOK in 1953 near Five Points West and they were married for more than 61 years. He retired from America’s First Federal Credit Union. He enjoyed tennis, football, music and was an avid baseball enthusiast. He is predeceased by brother J.T. Driskill and sister Louise Driskill Hogan. He is survived by his wife Carolyn; son Mark Darrell Driskill and daughter Leigh Elaine Driskill-Gomany (Ken), both of Hoover; sisters Freda Driskill Welch of Homewood; Virginia Driskill Ogle of Atlanta, Ga., and a host of nephews and nieces. Services will be held at Johns-Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel on Monday, September 21: visitation, 1:00 p.m. and funeral at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Malcolm Marler officiating. Burial follows at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Indian Springs Village Children’s Fund, 2635 Cahaba Valley Rd, Indian Springs Village, AL 35124 (http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2013/11/11/donations-sought-for-indian-springs-village-childrens-fund/) or to a favorite charity. /) or to a favorite charity.