John Michael "Johnny" Turner

Johnny Turner went home to the Lord on Monday, February 2 at his home in Gainesville. He was 72. He is predeceased by his mother Wilma Hemphill Turner, father Edward Benjamin Turner, and grandparents Ray and Victoria Hemphill and Bertie and Arthur McKinstry.

A 1971 graduate of Gainesville High School, Johnny attended Gainesville College. His lifelong passion for helping others found an outlet at Wards Funeral Home, where he drove an ambulance for years. He also worked at Frierson-McEver during this time.

Leaving Ward’s, he joined Interstate Transport as safety director, before leaving in 1979 when he was named Safety Engineer for Phillips & Jordan’s Seaboard Coastline Railroad project in Calhoun Falls, SC for the Army Corps of Engineers. He met his wife there, and they moved to Denton, TX for Phillips & Jordan’s Ray Robert’s Dam project then Orlando, FL. Returning to SC in 1984, Johnny opened a pub, “JT’s”, even running for city council. He moved back to Gainesville, where he raised his two children. He worked as an agent at Coldwell Banker Realtors before taking a position as a truck broker at GTO2000. He retired on September 11, 2025, on his 25 th anniversary with the company.

Johnny was beloved by everyone who knew him, and was recognized for his huge heart, ear-too-ear smile, his participation in the First Baptist Church Living Christmas Tree and his love of music and sports. He was a fan of whichever college football team his life-long friend Tommy West was coaching, always driving Tommy’s parents, Carol and Jim, to Clemson for games. He was a passionate and loyal friend, especially to his annual Sky Dolly Memorial Day Golf outing which included Tommy and Tim West and Darryl Smallwood and his weekly poker group, hosted by Scotty Buffington, and including Doug Bennett, David Chester, Rudy Allen, Stanley Sewell, Jerry Ward and Hump Robinson.

He was a life-long member of First Baptist Church and sang bass in the choir for many years. He is survived by his children, Tiffany Carmichael (Drew) of Gainesville, Michael (Anna) of Greenville, SC and six grandchildren: Nolan, Aiden and Charley Carmichael and Graham, Colin, and Liam Turner; a sister, Judi Turner, of Nashville, TN, and a brother, Ben, of Dade City, FL, a large number of cousins, and his band of brothers- his many lifelong friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church Chapel with visitation to follow in the church parlor.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you make a donation to Good News at Noon, goodnewsatnoon.org or the charity of your choice.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Arrangements are in the care of Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.

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