July 3, 1957  –

April 18, 2012

The graveside funeral service for James “Bear” Alvin Johnson, 54, of Climax, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 at Cedar Grove Cemetery with the Rev. David Grubbs officiating. William Givens, Leon Godwin, Robert Givens, Travis Givens, Richard Barfield, Brandon Barfield, and Dale Scott Addison, Sr. will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alvin Johnson Memorial Fund, c/o The First Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 575, Bainbridge, GA, 39818.

Alvin was born July 3, 1957 in Greensboro, Fla. He died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at his residence. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Alvin was a farmer for many years and was of the Christian faith.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Angela Michelle Johnson; his wife, Brenda Guy Johnson; his sister, Kay Givens; his step-father, Willie Ray Givens; his paternal grandmother, Evelyn Brackin; and his maternal grandmother, Kathleen Dyess.

Survivors include his wife, Dawn Marie Johnson of Climax; his sons, James Johnson and his wife, Danielle Barber, of Donalsonville, Ga., Christopher Johnson of Colquitt, Ga., Richard Barfield of Climax, and Brandon Barfield of Climax; his daughters, Jeannie Stover of Columbus, Ohio and Tina Flowers and her husband, Thad, of Macon, Ga.; his parents, Betty Godwin and her husband, Leon Godwin, of Climax; his brothers, Robert Givens and his wife, Andrea, of Bainbridge, and William Givens and his wife, Nikki, of Climax; and his eight grandchildren.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.