Joe F. Johnston of Woodstock, Georgia passed away peacefully on August 17, 2024.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Nannette (Clements) Johnston. He is survived by their three children. The children are Mark and his wife, Kelly (Walsh) Johnston of High Point, North Carolina, David and his wife, Elizabeth (Cromey) Johnston of Woodstock, Georgia, and their daughter, Jananne Johnston of Woodstock, Georgia. There are five grandchildren, Joseph Ryan Johnston and his wife, Kerry (Meulman) Johnston of Gastonia, North Carolina; Rachel Ann (Johnston) Melton and Nick Melton of Belmont, North Carolina; Emily Page (Johnston) Kunimoto and Jesse Lee Kunimoto; Andrew David "Drew" Johnston, and Chloe Grace Johnston of Woodstock, Georgia. There are three great grandsons, Caleb Mark Johnston, Jaxson Powell Melton, and Kash Reid Melton, and two great granddaughters, Cora Elizabeth Johnston and Carly Rose Johnston.

Joe also leaves a loving extended family of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and two sisters-in-law.

Joe was the grandson of Dr. James M. Sullivan of Hayesville, North Carolina and Joe was the great-great-great grandson of Joseph Johnston who was a Revolutionary War soldier and is buried in East Tennessee.

Joe was born on November 26, 1929, in Madisonville, Tennessee, the son of Floyd and Bennie Lee (Sullivan) Johnston. Joe's father died in 1932 when Joe was only three years old. His Mother and the four boys, Ralph L., Walter B. "Happy", Linton S. "Buck" and Joe moved to his Mother's hometown of Hayesville, North Carolina in 1933. Joe's sister, Lillian Ann remained in Madisonville living with her Johnston grandparents. Joe and his brothers grew up in the depression years and Mrs. Johnston worked to support the family. Joe's Mother, sister, and three brothers preceded him in death.

Joe is a graduate of Hayesville High School, Hayesville, North Carolina where he very much enjoyed football and basketball. Upon graduating in 1947 his brothers had each completed a tour of military duty and each were living in Greenville, South Carolina. Joe and his Mother joined his brothers in Greenville, SC where Joe attended Furman University where he received a BA Degree in 1951.

The Korean War was raging at that time, so Joe joined the U.S. Air Force. He was a Career Guidance Counselor and then for one year was a technician on a Human Resources Research Project. He was then a Personnel and Testing Specialist at Headquarters 6332nd Air Base at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa.

Joe's enjoyment of life can be seen in the first vehicle he owned which was one-half interest in a 1937 black Buick Hearse. This was when he was stationed at Lackland AFB.

Joe was discharged from the Air Force in 1955 and immediately began the pursuit of a higher education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. This was followed by his admission to the Tulane School of Social Work in New Orleans, La. At Tulane he was active in student affairs and became president of the Student Body of the School of Social Work. He was also selected for WHO'S WHO AMONG STUDENTS IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES. He was graduated in 1957 with a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Social Work.

Joe and Nannette were married in Houston, Texas in 1958. Nannette was a Texan by birth and she and Joe enjoyed many decades in a loving and supportive relationship.

Joe had a long and very productive career in Psychiatric Social Work. He held a position at Baylor University Medical School in Houston, Texas, with the South Carolina State Hospital (working in Greenville) and with the Texas Division of Mental Health in Galveston County, Texas. He then was employed by The Bradley Center in Columbus, Georgia. During the 29 years of Joe's employment at The Bradley Center, the Center grew from a professional staff of six to an outstanding outpatient and inpatient Psychiatric Treatment Center with some 300 employees. Joe was a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, a member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and an Associate Member of the Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Through his years at The Bradley Center Joe worked as a Clinician providing both In-Patient and Out-Patient Individual Psychotherapy, Group Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Evaluations and Marital Counseling.

Joe had been a member of the National Association of Social Workers since 1957 and was active in the Southwest Georgia Unit and the Georgia Chapter of NASW. He was honored to be selected as the Social Worker of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of NASW for 1991.

After leaving The Bradley Center in 1993 Joe had a private psychotherapy treatment service for a number of years.

Joe, Nannette and Jananne moved to Acworth, Georgia, in 2002 to be near David and his family. They have enjoyed their new home and the opportunity to interact with David, Elizabeth, and their three children.

After moving to Acworth, it was not long before Joe became involved with their community, becoming very active in the Homeowner's Association.

Joe was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was always eager to offer a helping hand to others. Joe will be sorely missed by his family and others who knew him well. May he rest in peace.

Lakeside Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Lakeside is located at 121 Claremore Drive, Woodstock, Georgia. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, August 29 from 6-7 pm, and on Friday, August 30 from 9:30 – 10:30 am, with a service to follow.

Interment will be at the Georgia National Cemetery, 2025 Mount Carmel Church Lane, Canton, Georgia 30014. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 on Friday, August 30. Friends and family are invited to join the family at Wellesley Neighborhood Club House, 1001 Wellesley Crest Dr, Woodstock, GA 30189 at 4:00 pm on Friday, August 30.

If desired, a Memorial Donation may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.