Cornell Johnson, Sr.

Cornell Johnson, Sr., a long-time resident of Dothan, passed away January 16, 2017. He was 48.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 11 am in the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Orlando Grimsley and Pastor Christopher Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Gates of Heaven Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 pm on Friday, January 20, 2017.

Cornell Johnson, Sr. entered this world May 10, 1968 to W.C. Johnson and Marie Davis. Cornell graduated from Northview High School in 1987. He was a member of Stringer Street A.M.E. Church in his early age where he served faithful through adulthood. Later in life, with his family, they united at Faith Victory Christian Center. He served in the United States Army as a cook and later decided to keep it as a hobby. Cornell loved spending time playing chess with his partner Lil Grimsley, Terry Holt, and Roderick Jones and shooting the breeze. Cornell’s favorite saying was “Hold Your Head Back,” you know what I mean. He was excited about his place in the Kingdom of God.

Cornell is preceded in death by his father, W.C. Johnson, grandmothers, Ellen Arnette and Mary Lizzie Johnson; grandson, Mason Johnson, and his grandfather, O.G. Barber.

He is survived by his loving wife, Valeria Johnson of 30 years; his sons, Cornell (Kierra) Johnson, Cassius (Jasmine) Johnson; 5 grandchildren, Amyiah Johnson, Jaylon Lensby, Kadance Johnson, Olivia Johnson, and Gabriella Johnson; his mother, Marie (John) Davis; brother, Gregory Johnson of Chesapeake, VA; sisters Tanja (Rick) Hamilton of Appling, GA, Pamelia (Silvester) Hawkins; sisters-in-law, Vanessa (Pastor O. Grimsley) Grimsley, Veronica (Timothy Ardis) Walker; mother in law, Margaret Graham; his father-in-law, Freddie (Joann) Hawkins; and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and family.

Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com