Myrtle Claire Johnson

Myrtle C. Johnson was born at her parents’ home in Ailey, Georgia on June 6, 1932 and passed away after a long illness on July 9, 2023. Although she grew up in a rural community during the Great Depression, Myrtle’s family always had enough to eat from the farm. She helped her mom in the kitchen, looked after her younger siblings, and worked in the garden. Her great joy as a child was playing the piano and riding horses with her brother Ray.

After graduation from Montgomery County High School in 1949, Myrtle attended Brewton-Parker College and Georgia Teacher’s College (now Georgia Southern University), where she obtained a degree in education. However, after one year she realized that teaching was not her calling, so Myrtle went to work as a customer service representative for the Georgia Power Company in Mt. Vernon, Georgia. After a short time there, she transferred to Hinesville, Georgia, where she met Carl Johnson. They married on October 26, 1956, about three months after they met. They were together for almost 58 years until Carl’s death in 2014.

Myrtle and Carl built a home, had two children, and were very active in the community, especially at First Baptist Church of Hinesville. Myrtle had a wonderful singing voice and was an accomplished musician. She served the Lord for many years playing the piano for church services, leading children’s choirs, and providing music for innumerable weddings and funerals. In addition to working full time with Georgia Power, which she affectionately called “the Company,” Myrtle helped manage the family’s rental property business. After Myrtle retired from Georgia Power with 28 years of service, she and Carl moved to Cartersville, Georgia in 2005 to be near their family. They found a new church home at Rowland Springs Baptist Church where they made many friends, especially in their Sunday School class.

Myrtle’s pride and joy was her family. She showed her love in a lot of ways, but one of her favorite ways was to feed her kids and grandkids. She was a fantastic cook and nothing pleased her more than to have everyone together to fry fish or eat her homemade ice cream.

Myrtle is survived by her children: Elaine Johnson and Walter Johnson (Leslie); four grandchildren: James Miller (Ashley), Lauren Raessler (Drew), Allison Laughlin (Zach), and Heather Parker (Kelly); seven great-grandchildren: Kyleigh and Kenlie Miller; Rosie, David, and Chloe Raessler; and Aubrey and Jett Laughlin; and two sisters: Melba Lehman (Carl) and Marian Dunn (Clyde). Myrtle was predeceased in death by her husband Carl; her parents, Henry and Trudie Thompson; five brothers, Ed, Alec, Wade, Ray, and Don Thompson; and two sisters, Evelyn Thompson and Louise Braddy.

Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Cartersville, Georgia, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 12:00 pm. The Rev. Joe Ringwalt will officiate. Family and friends are invited to greet the family in the hour preceding the service.

The family will greet visitors at Carter Funeral Home, 308 West Oglethorpe Blvd., Hinesville, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. A graveside service will be held at the Elim Baptist Church Cemetery, 6650 Elim Church Rd. Mr. Ricky Walker will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Myrtle’s memory to Hinesville First Baptist Church, 220 East Memorial Drive, Hinesville, GA 31313, (www.fbchinesvillega.com), Rowland Springs Baptist Church, 79 Rowland Springs Road, SE, Cartersville, GA 30121, (www.rowlandsprings.com), or to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.act.alz.org.)