Derek A. Johnson

February 19, 2017

Pastor Derek A. Johnson, 52, of West Blocton, Ala., formerly of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Sunday, February 19, 2017.

The graveside funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at Hickman Chapel Cemetery in McCalla, Ala. with Pastor Anton Fourie officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at McCalla Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in McCalla.

A reception will be held Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 2 until 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Bainbridge. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: First Baptist Church, PO Box 155, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Derek Alan Johnson was born October 12, 1964, in Tallahassee, Fla., the son of Loren and Betty Johnson. He was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1982, and earned a Masters in Divinity from Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham. Derek served as Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in West Blocton for the past seventeen years.

Derek was a man of many talents and quick wit. He had quite a green thumb and enjoyed the outdoors. He gardened, planted trees and maintained a pond on his property. He also loved to spend time on the green playing a round of golf with his dad. Derek was an outstanding woodworker and shared this gift with his son, Atticus. As an avid reader, Derek could often be found with his nose in a book. He always put God first but family, including his church family, was most important to Derek.

Survivors include his wife, Melissa Johnson of West Blocton; his children, Kylie Lambert and her husband, Joshua, Denalyn, Lydia and Atticus, all of West Blocton; his grandson, Gabriel Lambert and one grandchild soon to be born; his parents, Loren and Betty Johnson of Bainbridge; his sisters, Kelly Long and her husband, Dargan, of Bainbridge, and Lynn Huntington and her husband, Brad, of Woodstock, Ga.; his nieces, Kendrick Long, Mary Alice Long, Marti Huntington and Sadie Huntington; his nephews, Stanton Long, David Long and Hayes Huntington; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.