Bobby Lee Johnson

Bobby Lee Johnson, 73 years, 2 months, and 14 days, passed away on September 26, 2026, at Magnolia Regional Hospital.

Bobby was born July 12, 1953, in Selmer, Tennessee, to Kenneth and Dorothy McVay Johnson. A lifelong resident of McNairy County, Bobby never had much interest in being anywhere other than where he belonged—surrounded by family, friends, good music, good food, and a good story to tell.

Bobby attended McNairy Central and went on to build a life that was very much his own. He worked for General Electric for sixteen years, served four years in the National Guard, and was the proud owner of Johnson Janitorial, a business he began in 1974. He took great pride in his work, especially cleaning carpets, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than finishing a job, looking at the results, and telling you just how good a job he had done.

On December 24, 1971, Bobby married Debra Lynn Jackson. Together, they built a family and a life filled with memories, laughter, and plenty of Bobby being Bobby. He is survived by his wife, Debra Jackson Johnson; his daughters, Chasity Johnson Churchwell and Autumn Johnson Winters; and a family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought him tremendous joy.

Bobby never met a stranger. He had a way of making people feel like they had known him forever, and he was generous with his time, his stories, and whatever he happened to have to give. He loved golf, telling stories, and getting lost on cruise ships. He loved Coca-Cola, beef salad, fatty meat, and just about anything that could be considered good food. He liked his television way too loud and his music even louder—Van Morrison, jazz, classic rock, yacht rock, and pretty much anything with a beat.

And then there were the things that were simply Bobby. He was known to say, “Oh, well, is a great song,” and his famous response, “It’s not about me,” which was often followed by circumstances that somehow made it very much about him. He was, in many ways, the epitome of an only child—and he wore that distinction proudly.

Bobby loved his family deeply and spent much of his life sacrificing for them, sometimes quite literally—once even sacrificing part of a finger. He showed love in his own way, whether by working hard, taking care of his family, giving everyone a ridiculous rubber chicken, or gifting someone a lottery ticket just in case their luck was about to change.

He had a love of life that was impossible to miss. Bobby lived according to his own rules, enjoyed what he enjoyed, said what he thought, listened to the music he loved, ate what tasted good, and made his way through life with a personality that could never be duplicated. He leaves behind not only a family who loved him, but countless stories that will continue to be told.

Bobby attended First Baptist Church in Bethel Springs, Tennessee. He had a love for the Lord and made sure that his family had the same. He often saw cleaning carpets and talking with his customers as a way to minister to people and share the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Dorothy Johnson, and his grandson, Easton James Lee Winters.

He is survived by his wife, Debra Jackson Johnson; daughters, Chasity Johnson Churchwell and husband Philip, and Autumn Johnson; grandchildren, Elizabeth Holland Redmon and husband Tyler, Brooklyn Holland Jowers and husband Zach, Mallory Churchwell Chism and husband Brad, Katie-Grace Winters and fiance Will Jones, Victoria Lauren Winter, Megan Skylar Churchwell, and Lucas Spencer Martin; and great-grandchildren, Jake Rylan Tedford, Milana Kate Chism, Evelyn Kate Redmon, Aspen Blaire Chism, Charlotte Louise Redmon, Cadence Grace Chism, Emilia Caroline Jowers, James Daniel Chism, Tucker Brooks Jowers, Jordan Blake Chism, Lillian Lane Redmon, and Isla Vivenne Williams.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Home in Selmer, Tennessee. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Joey Franks officiating. Burial will follow at Bethesda Cemetery.

In typical Bobby fashion, he would want the last word, so here are his:

“Call me if you need me.” “Love you, always and forever—and could you get me a pack of cigarettes?” “Sees ya when I sees ya.”