Johnson
UNDATED — Troy Woodrow Johnson, Sr. age 86, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 4, 2025, following complications from pneumonia.
Holding his hand and ever by his side was his devoted wife of more than 63 years, Doyleta Glosson Johnson.
Johnson was born to Woodrow L. Johnson and Margarite H. Johnson on October 24, 1939, and raised in Rockingham, Ga.
He worked from the youngest age, behind his mule “Queen” on the family farm, delivering telegrams on his bike during the Korean War, and at the soda shop in town, where he was named “Our Favorite Soda Jerk” in his high school yearbook. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Alma.
After he married the love of his life in 1962 and became a young father, he was a hard-working provider for his family. He was hired by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, later CSX, in Waycross, the railroad shops repairing train engines, where he rose through the ranks to General Foreman and remained until retirement. Johnson was honored with the coveted CSX Master award for his good work, and made lifelong friends with whom he remained close in retirement, swapping tall tales and meals each month.
Johnson led an active life, and was a farmer at heart, always growing vegetables and later, acres of south Georgia blueberries with his brother-in-law, R.L. Glosson. In the late 1970s, Johnson discovered the new craze of running and went on to win shelves full of trophies and medals in all distances, including qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon in 1980, a huge point of pride. In later years, he turned to golf for an active outlet.
Johnson was proud of both of his children’s accomplishments, and when he became a grandfather, all bets were off. He and his grandson enjoyed a shared love of trains, and he took his granddaughter to the golf course every chance he could. His niece, Jenny Johnson, also held a special place in his heart and provided invaluable support in his later years. Johnson always was available to his friends and family to offer a joke or help with car trouble or provide support in any way he could.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant daughter Susan Rebecca; his brother Larry W. Johnson; his niece Teresa Sermons; his nephews Martin Head and Greg Lee; sisterin- law Rhonwyn Treadwell; and brothers-in-law Troy Lee, Pete Lee, Darwin Glosson, Ray Faulkenberry, and Ray Glosson.
Survivors include his wife, Doyleta Johnson; his son Troy Johnson, Jr. (Colleen) of Las Vegas, Nev.; his daughter Vicki Johnson of Easthampton, Mass.; his grandson Garrett Johnson of Washington, D.C.. and granddaughter Sula Johnson of Northampton; former daughter-in-law Vickie Knight Mitchell; two brothers, Donald R. Johnson (Lawanda) of Alma, and the Rev. Johnny Johnson (Annette) of Ocala, Fla., two sisters, Vivian Lee and Syble J. Lee both of Alma; his Aunt Lorene and cousin of Vidalia; and beloved in laws Randy L. Glosson (Rita) of Canton, Ga., Lynn Faulkenberry (Ray) of Kershaw, S.C., Sue Burton (Arthur) of Marietta, Ga., Diane Newton (Jack) of Acworth, Ga., Janet Glosson of Marietta, Pat Simpson of Cherry Log, Ga., and Julie Glosson of Alma; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held December 8 from the chapel of Crosby Funeral Home with the Rev. Brannon Pate and the Rev. Johnny Johnson officiating.
Active pallbearers included Jonathan Johnson, Ray Johnson, Mark Lee, Charlton Head, Lee Glosson, and Scott Little.
Honorary pallbearers included members of the CSX Officers Club and the Bacon County High School Class of 1958.
A private graveside service followed at Pine Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
