Johnny Newman

Mr. Newman died Monday at McNairy Regional Hospital.



The son of Edward Green and Vivian Joyce Crum Newman, he was born in Bolivar on December 16, 1953. He was Full Gospel in belief and had given his life to the Lord. A former City of Whiteville policeman, he was a family man and a compassionate person. Mr. Newman was a talented and accomplished musician and recording artist. He started his career as a teenager and made several recordings in Nashville. Two songs were pulled from his most recent album as singles "I Found Somebody", which made the Billboard charts, and "One Life Stand". He traveled and fronted many well-known country artists including Mickey Gilley, Narvel Felts, Moetta, Johnny Paycheck, Hugh X. Lewis, David Wells, Ace Cannon & the Cannonball Express, and was leader of "Stillwater" in which he was the lead singer. He lived most his life in West Tennessee, the last 6 years in Selmer.



In addition to his mother Vivian, survivors include his wife Donna Newman of Selmer; a stepdaughter Brandi Henry of Bethel Springs; a stepson Robert Stansell of Shiloh; 4 sisters, DeAnna Mathis and Brenda Joan Allen both of Bolivar, Paula Annette Lowry of Memphis, and Tammy Roxanne Davis of Milan; 3 brothers, David Wayne and Joel Anthony Newman, both of Bolivar, and Terry Frank Newman of Decaturville; 2 grandchildren, Joshua and Tyler Stansell; 2 great-grandchildren Ethan & Lily Stansell; and his stepmother, Ollie Faye Newman. In addition to his father Edward, he was preceded in death by a daughter Kelly Townsend; his grandmother Maude Wilbanks, and a sister-in-law, Kathy Ulianna Newman.