John Joseph Ketcham Jr.

Mr. Johnny was widely known in the Lindley Park area as the beloved School Crossing Guard at Lindley Elementary for over 16 years. He was also an Alumni of Lindley, having attended in the late 1950's.

Mr. Johnny was born in Westhampton, Long Island, NY in 1946. It didn't take long for is parents to return to Greensboro, where he was raised. Following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, he became a brick mason. He took a short detour and served as a Greensboro Police Officer for a year, and then returned to his first love, masonry. He began traveling the US, following the work, as he called it. He worked in almost 40 states and became a Master Mason. While living in NM, he married and had his three beautiful daughters. If you ever talked to Johnny, you heard about his girls and their many accomplishments. They are his pride and joy. And besides having been a police officer in Greensboro, Mr. Johnny also was a volunteer fireman while living in NM. Mr. Johnny returned to Greensboro in 1995 and continued working as a mason. He retired at age 62 and later found, according to Mr. Johnny, the best job in the world. He became a School Crossing Guard and briefly worked as a Relief Guard until the post at Lindley became available. Mr. Johnny quickly became an icon at Lindley and in the neighborhood.

How many remember "Johnny's Law"? He was disappointed in the number of parents who walked their kids to school but chose to talk on their cellphone instead of paying attention to the little one beside them. So, he enacted Johnny's Law- no cellphone allowed in the crosswalk while escorting your child to school. Pay attention to your child- they grow up fast and won't welcome your attention in a few years. The kids were his priority; he loved his kids and made sure they had an enjoyable start to their day. Everyone was greeted with a laugh as he got them safely across the street to school. Fridays were always Candy Friday, and he probably gave thousands of Dum Dums (and Smarties) to his kids over the years. Every dog he encountered got treats! Birthdays were celebrated on the corner, as he called his post, and for many years he also dressed up as Santa and made sure every kid got a goodie bag. For many years, Mr. Johnny also invited all his kids, as well as the entire school, to visit his house at Halloween, where they could sample fresh popped popcorn, as well as squirrel brains (which was simply oatmeal with brown sugar and red food coloring mixed in). The largest crowd for Halloween was approximately 350- the smallest was exactly 48, in 2020.

Mr. Johnny loved the outdoors and spent much of his time camping and fishing. He made sure to share his passion with the kids, gifting many kids with their first rod and reel, and he would also include fishing line, hooks, sinkers, and lures- everything they would need to get started. Sleeping bags, tents, and camo blankets were also frequent gifts for his kids.

Mr. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Bessie (Campbell) and John Ketcham Sr, and brother Ricky Ketcham, as well as his much-loved Aunt Mae and Uncle Harold Sexton. Mr. Johnny is survived by his daughters, Renee Davis (Phil), Krystal Sutherland (Derek Pelletier) and Kasey Rinaldi (Mike); 6 grandchildren: McKayla, Madalyn, Michael, Rylee, Peyton, and Jamison; cousins Larry Campbell, Harold Sexton (Ginger) and David Sexton. He is also survived by his partner and best friend, Cathy Robbins and their 2 Hound dogs, Si and Tic.

There will be no funeral service, but Mr. Johnny had said he hoped "everybody" would go to Golden Corral (or their favorite spot) and have a good time, sharing stories about the times they spent together. Mr. Johnny will definitely be missed. And whoever replaces him at Lindley will have some big shoes to fill.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff- especially the Nurses- on 4North, ICU CCU at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital. We are very grateful for your kindness and compassion during this heartbreaking time.