Leon Johnson

Leon Johnson was born November 21, 1922 at Enville, TN the son of the late Vaude and Mary Clara Wilkerson Johnson. He graduated from Chester County High School and later attended Freed Hardeman College. He entered the Army Air Corps, in 1943 and was a pilot on B 24’s four engine heavy bombers, serving in Air Force Reserve and Tennessee National Guard for twenty-three years, retiring in 1966 with the rank of Major. Mr. Johnson served with Tennessee Defense Force in Nashville for three years on Division Staff, retiring as Colonel. He was appointed Honorary Brigadier General by Governor Ned McWherter in July of 1988. He worked for the Tennessee State Department of Education for six years prior to entering the funeral profession in 1954. He was a graduate of John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. He served two terms on the Board of Governor’s for West Tennessee with the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, served as President of Tennessee Funeral Directors Association (1981-1982), and Coroner for Chester County for twenty five years.
He also served as Chairman of Red Cross, Vice President of West Tennessee Heart Association, Chairman of Saint Jude, President of Chester County Lions Club, Chairman of the Governor’s Committee for Rehabilitation of Handicapped under three Governor’s. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Henderson.
Mr. Johnson owned and operated Leon Johnson Funeral Home for over forty-two years prior to the Shackelford family acquiring the business in Oct of 1991.
He is survived by a daughter, Jan Mabry and husband Phil of Powell, TN and a son, Jack Lancaster Johnson of Henderson and a granddaughter, Mary Morgan Robinson and husband Jimbo of Memphis and also leaves behind a very special care giver, Lillie Terry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of sixty one years, Betty Lancaster Johnson in 2011, a great granddaughter, Ruth Lancaster Robinson in April 2014 and a sister, Olamai Weatherly.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Johnson Chapel with Dr. Roger Penn and Rev. Randy Cooper officiating with burial to follow in Henderson City Cemetery with full Military Honors.