Today, Sunday October 14, 2012, is 2 years since Johnny died...the past couple of days have been difficult...remembering & grieving.  I am so thankful for the recent entries...sweet words, loving words...they have helped me.  Somehow this year is harder, perhaps because I haven't felt real closure. I struggle with acceptance...I try & believe God is in control & the way & timing of Johnny's death was part of His plan. Being with family today has been a blessing...sharing a meal, laughing, talking, & remembering him...placing red & white flowers on his grave(he loved Alabama football); it's such a beautiful day. I think of Johnny smiling..calling me Judy Faye. He was my brother, and I loved him & am so thankful to have spent time with him those last months of his life...those last months were so difficult & painful for him, yet he never complained. I came to realize that he had a quiet, inner strengh that allowed him to..."fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

Growing up, my brother Johnny was fun and full of adventure as a sibling two years older than me. I was sometimes priviledged to go along on his explorations of our neighborhood and outlying areas; like the time he and I climbed around inside an old abandoned warehouse looking for treasure (which later struck me as definately not safe); or the time he decided to "run away" and hid out in a secret location while I would sneak away and supply him with pbj sandwiches. Johnny seemed somewhat shy around others, content just to be outside playing and  and discovering, unafraid of what he might encounter. But eventhough he didn't choose to be around others, he had a heart for people and when he observed a need he would try to meet it; like the time he saw a poor family who lived near our poor family who needed food and he took some of our meager fare in a grocery sack to the the family; or as a little kid who couldn't tie her shoes and he, as a little bit older kid, taught me how. He never wanted recognition.   Later, he would come to Georgia to help my husband and me build our house.  He hand-laid our brick fireplace and I thought...now where did he learn to do that. I think few people know of Johnny's love for writing poetry as a young person or his talk of maybe one day becoming a minister. His heart was so pure.

Thank you, my brother Johnny, for teaching me about humility and love. 
Rosemary

Your light will always shine through your son John, especially and all your loved ones. You touched so many lives & we all were sorry to see you go but know you are int the presence of the Lord now & we will see you again.

Johnny truly had a heart of gold & everyone loved & admired him. We were married 22 years and had one magnificient son, John Campbell II. He is so much like his dad and has those same unbelievable talents.  As John remembers the days on the beach in Pensacola, it was one of the happiest times. I can just see them now playing on the beach & Johnny pulling him endlessly in the Gulf. Building John's house was an awesome family experience. So many good memories! Johnny insisted on building a deck for me while he was in remission & I quickly realized he already had a vision of how it should look. A work of love & so much appreciated. He had so many fine qualities as being courteous & kind to everyone & such a gentleman.  A brilliant man that we all loved & miss so much. I met Johnny at the Paramount theatre at age 16 and married when I was 19 in 1966. I remember Johnny singing "Hang on Sloopy" when I was visisting Rosemary, his sister, before we were dating. Johnny was always happy with his white T shirt & bluejeans and working. He loved to work & be so creative in it. It was my honor to help care for him that last 17 months. We shared so many good memories. I thank God I had that time to be with him. He will always be remembered, loved and greatly missed. I love you Johnny-Carol Campbell

Our dearest Johnny-pop,
We are so privileged we had the opportunity to have you in our lives. I'm sorry it was only for a short time, but each moment was so very special. When you built our house with us, I was always so amazed of your knowledge of EVERYTHING! I always heard of the plethora of knowledge you were blessed with, and I was so fortunate to experience it also. Every day I find something in our house that makes me think of you. I can still hear you singing "Lollipop" and whistling away throughout the house. Thank you for being such a wonderful grandfather, and thank you for treating me as if you knew me my entire life. From the day we met, you were always so kind and genuine to me and the girls. We will cherish each and every memory... until we meet again.
We will always love you, our dearest Johnny-pop.

The memories I have of my Dad are thankfully endless. On his shoulders in the Gulf of Mexico off the shores of Santa Rosa Island while he sings a song I still hear on the radio today. I may have been five or six.  The tree house we built. Spending summer days and nights working on his truck. Or building some incredible fence with huge brick columns and steel fence boards...I've never seen another like that one. We built a huge ramp in the backyard for me and my best friend...Mom didn't like it. Building our house in 2006, an absolutely incredible experience. Not all of my  memories involve construction. We had great times watching football. I learned so much from the deep conversations we had so often about so many things.  I was so proud he was able to be in my wedding to Cheri. An incredible high point for me. Watching him enjoy his conversations with my daughters, his granddaughters. He truly loved them. He was so intelligent, so wise. A giving and loving man. I learned so much from him. Thank God for blessing me with these  moments and the love from my Dad.

My dear cousin,
You will be in my heart and memory for ever. Love, Faye

Two years have slipped away since you left us, and so much more pain and joy have come to us still here wishing you were with us.  May the promise of eternal joy be yours now.  We miss you.  Nell and Ed, Laura, Gunnar, Seth and all the family.

Thanks to all of you who have recently shared renewed remembrances of Johnny.  I should have added a message here when Johnny's house was sold in August this year.  I felt Johnny's presence there at the house so strongly that day when Ed and I went by for the last time before the closing.  We took pictures, of course, but I had a lot of difficulty signing the papers remembering the day we had signed the papers to buy the house, with the same attorney, in the summer of 2004 when the place was a complete termite-ridden dump that Robert had bought and not had time to work on. It was unlivable, but Johnny moved in before he even had heat.  What a difference Johnny made there.  All his neighbors really hated to see the house sold--which hurt my heart even more.  Nell

Johnny is unforgettable. I have so many memories of him...how he called me Pharoah..how we got lost in Florida in 95 degree weather...many more.  Love, Faye

Precious are the memories of loved ones...and the peace we have, knowing there will be a time when grief will turn to joy (John 16:20). Thank you for sharing your love for your dear brother Johnny with others who knew him and remember him with warmth and affection.   Bobbie

Today marks one year that our brother, father, husband, grandfather, and friend slipped away from us. I am amazed that a year has passed....perhaps it seems a short time for some but a long and difficult time for others. I recently attended the funeral of a friend's mother, and the rabbi said "she lives on through our memories"....Johnny does live on through our remembering him & speaking of him & sharing stories of him, those good & happy and those painful, but we also know as believers in Christ, that he lives on in a way inconceivable to us, but encouraging to us...that he is well & whole & at peace, and that we will see him again.

WE MISS YOU VERY MUCH,TOOTS LOVES IT HERE IN THE COUNTRY LIFE. BUT I KNOW HE MISSES HIS DADDY LOVE BOSS.

On Sunday, 10-9-11, one year after Judy called me to say you had gone into cardiac arrest and were in intensive care at Babtist East Montgomery, a state from which you did not return, I turned on the yard lights you installed and enjoyed looking at the holly tree through the mist of a soft rain.  We miss you.  Nell

Today is Sunday, May 1, 2011....Johnny's birthday...he would have been 65 today. He has been gone from us now 6 months, 17 days.  We honored his memory by placing flowers in the church to the glory of God and in loving memory of a brother we love and miss so very much. We came together to share a meal-adding a few things he liked...lime congealed salad, Blue Bell Banana Split ice cream, brownies...and we shared memories of him. White carnations & red roses were put on his grave...University of Alabama colors...his favorite football team. It's been a beautiful day...but I know it is far more beautiful & peaceful where Johnny is than I could ever imagine.

We are missing you every day.  I put your Christmas wreath on your front door.  Scott got your yard reeady for Christmas.

To all of you who have taken the time to express a memory of Johnny, my precious brother, please accept my thanks.  If I could recount all my memories of Johnny and hold them steady long enough to write them down, some of them might break your heart.  But we go on in this world knowing that we will never see that face again or hear that so familiar voice saying, "Hey girl."  I hear his footsteps and see him everywhere.  Bye, Johnny, Love you, Nell.

I MISS YOU VERY MUCH AND TOOTS IS DOING GREAT!!! LOVE BOSS

There are so many things I wish I had said to Johnny that Saturday. If only I had let him know how much we wanted him to pull through and how much Gunnar and I respected and valued him. One day I hope I can not cry.
Niece Laura

I cry for Johnny, but even more for you and the rest of us who love and miss him.  Selfishly I prayed Johnny would make it through and stay with us longer. But, it truly gives me such peace that we got to see Johnny just a week before he went into the hospital. I pray for all of us left behind. But, I know Johnny is at peace now. I picture him as he always was..young, kind, smiling, and usually with a pencil behind his ear "measure twice, cut once." Gunnar has not forgotten what Johnny taught him...so he will always remember and keep Johnny in his heart. We love you very much.
Niece Laura & Grandnephew Gunnar

Our thoughts & prayers are truly with you all.  I think of my times in Selma when we all were little.  I remember when Rosemary was born; I was there for a week soon after her birth and I remember her long hair - on a newborn, no less! We are cousins and nothing will ever change that. I remember Johnny & Bobo, towhead little boys who were so Tom Sawyerish, but so much cuter. We would sometimes stay with your family on our one-week summertime in Selma; sometimes with Aunt Willie; sometimes with Aunt Cora and even with Boots when she lived next door to y'all.  The advantage of staying with Boots or Cora was that they lived next door to you all and we could play together, and to to Vacation Bible School at your church, and ride somebody's bikes, and explore the teritory the way kids are supposed to do (but don't anymore). I think about your Mom and her trust in the Lord, and believe her spiritual strength was influential on her children.  Praying that Johnny is truly at peace...a blessing for all to see him not suffering.    Cousin Bobbie

I am reminded of the time that we were all in Florida with Aunt Cora & Uncle Lamar.  They had gone somewhere and we took the opportunity to "cut loose"....we broke one of Aunt Cora's "whatnots" and we were scared to death.  Well, when they returned, we blamed it on Koobie and what could Aunt Cora say.  She never believed us, but she couldn't prove it!  Johnny and I contrived that explanation that was never disproved!  I am so filled with love and sadness.  I wish I had the means to be with y'all during this time.  My heart will be there.

He would always call me "pharoah" probably after some Egytian study or something.  As you can tell, I am heartsick.

To my most handsome cousin: Steve Mcqueen, your name is Johnny Campbell.

I am sitting here in solitude with my memories.  Childhood experiences are so powerful.  I felt a strong connection with Johnny because he and I shared struggles.  I wish I could show my love in person.  I just wanted you to know that I loved him and I know you all must be so hurting.  Family is strong.

My name is Linda, though many of you know me as Boss (or Bossy Girl to Johnny).  I know I'm not able to put my whole life story that I have spent with Johnny into a letter to read......but, I have enjoyed the moments that I've gotten to share with him dearly and wouldn't have changed a thing because the years of knowing him I've learned alot.  Although I can't build a house like he could, I can say he let me drive that big truck of his home plenty of times, so he taught me how to drive.  I can't even tell how many times we would go fishing.  I don't recall me catching anything but a good time, and that's all that mattered.  John, your father loved you very much along with the rest of his family and friends.  Everyone who knows Johnny then knows he would put any and everyone before himself.  I'm just glad I got to be a part of his life like a daughter.  It takes a real man to be a father to another man's child.  He will be missed but not forgotten.

John was a member of a wonderful and caring family,and he will be missed. I wish I had known him better.

   "but in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing"   Ingersoll

The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear.  We share your grief.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in the loss of your brother.  He was a special person and ours memories of him on the farm,his garden and sharing lunch are special.

OBITUARY

John H Campbell

May 1, 1946 – October 14, 2010

Leak Memory Chapel

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