Thomas Graham Johnson, Sr., 76, of Wauchula, went to be with the Lord on October 2, 2012 in Sarasota, Florida.
He was born on April 23, 1936 in Jacksonville, Florida. Graham came to Wauchula in the second grade and was a lifelong resident of Hardee County.
He was a graduate of Hardee Senior High School where he was an outstanding athlete in baseball as a left fielder and pitcher. He was also a feared lineman on the Fighting Wildcats football team. Following high school Graham served in the United States Marine Corp and then attended the University of Florida where he again took up his baseball career and became a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Graham worked for Florida Fence Post, Little Cypress Golf and Country Club, Lykes Brothers, and as a corrections officer in the Florida Prison system.
Graham is survived by his wife of 53 years, Delois Lowe Johnson; two children, Dr. Tami Saunders of Avon Park, and Thomas Graham Johnson, Jr. (Tommy) and his wife Lori of Jennings, Florida; three grandchildren, Kaleb Johnson Saunders, Lincoln Scott Saunders, and Gemi Thomas Saunders; one brother, Herbert F. Johnson of Athens, Georgia; two nieces and four nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, H. F. and Neva Bell Johnson and brother, Don Johnson.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Friendship Chapel, Zolfo Springs, from 10:00 - 10:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Ken Lambert will officiate. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Friendship Cemetery Fund, 4074 John Carlton Road, Zolfo Springs, Florida 33890.