JOHNSON, John Carl, born 29 Aug 1892, d. 24 July 1947, service number 3496721. John Carl JOHNSON was born in Wayne County, Tennessee on 29 Aug 1892. His parents were Anderson “Tip” JOHNSON and Sarah Elizabeth “Lina” GREESON. He had two brothers: Alvin and Morris; and two sisters: Elizabeth “Bess” and Jewel.

John Carl JOHNSON entered active duty in the US Army on 25 June 1918. While serving at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, GA, he received an injury during training. He also had the flu and was hospitalized. While he was in Capt Gordon Hospital he had a visitor from Wayne County. Nora BERRY, who was later to become his wife, rode the train from Florence, AL to visit him. He was released from service with an honorable discharge on 6 Dec 1918.

On 13 July 1919, Carl JOHNSON and Nora BERRY were married under a weeping willow tree at the home of Rev. Joseph HOLT at Cypress Inn, Tennessee. Nora was the daughter of James E. and Essa DAVIS BERRY of Lutts. Two daughters, Mauvelene and Patsy, were born to this union.

In the early 1920’s, he attended the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa for two years. He studied cabinet making and woodworking.

In the mid to late 20’s he worked for Chevrolet Motor Company in Flint, Michigan. This job was lost with the depression. In September 1930, he moved his family to Florence, Alabama.

In the early 30’s, he suffered a nearly fatal heart attack. In spite of the heart condition, which eventually took his life, he worked at any job he could to support his family. During those depression years he worked many different jobs including civil service in Washington, DC. He was also proud to be a Union Carpenter with the Muscle Shoals Building Trades Council.

On November 21, 1937, he and Nora, Mauvelene and Patsy moved to Wayne County. They bought a farm in Cypress Inn. He heart condition prevented him from actually farming but he rented the land out. They both worked very hard to have a comfortable home and a living. He was very proud to see both his daughters graduate from Collinwood High School.

It was in that farm home, in his own bed, that another heart attack took his life. He died 24 July 1947, when he was only 54 years old. He was buried in McGlamery Cemetery, Collinwood, Tennessee. The Waynesboro Post of the American Legion honored him with full military burial. He was very proud to be a member of that Post and a veteran of World War I.