Raymond Harold Johnson

Raymond Harold Johnson,79, of Albany, GA., died Thursday, February 23, 2023 at his residence. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. Bruce English will officiate.

Ray was born in Elba, AL and raised in Kinston, AL,. He moved to Florida, where he met Gwen and worked as a roofer. He moved to Georgia in 1978 to work for MERCK Chemical, where he worked for thirty years and retired. He then operated and drove a dump truck for many years.

Ray was first and foremost a loving husband, dad, papa, brother and uncle. His family was his life and he loved deeply. He coached his three sons, Chris, Rodney and Derrick in baseball. Between Ray and Gwen, they rarely missed a game, no matter what it took to be there. Then the grandbabies, Jesca, Hanna, Hayden and Hunter and that love and support grew even more. He was one proud papa.

He was an avid woodworker and loved building things for Gwen, family and friends. He never charged a dime, it was a pleasure for him to build it for them. Almost always when building something for someone, he would write a handwritten note on it, either on the back or under a drawer, just to let them know it was his pleasure to build. He also loved his home and yard. He spent forty years working and grooming his yard to keep it nice for he and Gwen. Almost every day, he would be at his shop, on the lawnmower, or on his tractor. Other than his family, this was his passion and was a master at it.