friends and family

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Published Aug. 31, 1999

Johnny Thompson, 35, of Rt. 1 Brundidge died early Monday morning at his home at Hamilton Crossroads of a self-inflected gunshot wound, according to Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas.

The Hamilton Crossroads community was shocked and saddened by Thompson’s death.

Johnny Thompson was a good son, a good husband and a good friend.

He was a good community servant, a good firefighter, a good employee and a good soldier.

"Johnny Thompson was a good man – a darn good man."

David Miles held his head in his hand and his voice broke as he remembered his good friend.

"I grew up with Johnny – went to school with him. I knew him for 35 years," Miles said. "He was one of the best people I have ever known. Never, in all the world would I have thought this – never in all the world. This is unbelievable."

Friends and co-workers stood quietly around Thompson’s house wondering why this happy-go-lucky fellow chose not to go on with life.

Thompson lived about 200 yards across the highway from where he had worked at Carter Brothers Manufacturing Co. for eight years.

Company vice president June Arn was among those who gathered at Thompson’s home.

"Johnny was one of the best employees we have ever had," Arn said. "He was always there when we needed him and always willing to do whatever was asked of him. He was a good employee and he will be missed by all of us."

Arn said Thompson was not only a good employee but also a good community servant.

"He was always available to help anyone and he helped a lot of people in the community," she said. "He did a lot of volunteer work and was a dedicated firefighter."

Thompson was captain and training officer of the Hamilton Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department and was well respected among the members.

"Johnny had been with our fire department for six years," said R. C. Carter, firefighter. "He got along well with all of us. He was dedicated and loyal and always did a good job. He was a good fireman."

Firefighter Harvey Kellogg agreed.

"You could always count on Johnny," Kellogg said. "He was as good as they come. He was a good leader and a good example – a good firefighter and a good man."

And Thompson was a good soldier.

He has just returned from annual training with 3rd Battalion, 117th Field Artillery (Troy) of the Alabama National Guard at Camp Shelby, Miss. on Saturday.

There, Thompson had been awarded the Commander’s Award which is given to one soldier in the battalion that has done an outstanding job and gone above and beyond the call of duty, said Sfc. Les Richburg.

"I have served with Johnny for 11 years and he was as good a soldier as there is," Richburg said. "This year, out of 400, he received the Commander’s Award in recognition of the kind of soldier he was. Johnny was a super guy and one of the most dependable soldiers we’ve ever had. If you had 400 people like him in a battalion, you would never have to call roll. He was always there."

Johnny Thompson will be remembered by all who knew him and he will be remembered as a good man – "a darn good man."