Johnny E. Lunsford

Johnny E. Lunsford Sr. passed away on Friday, February 21, 2014 at the age of 91 at Columbus Hospice House. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. EST at Vance-Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Rd. Columbus, GA. Reverend Tommy Poole and Dr. Donald Wilhight will be officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 24, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. EST at the funeral home. Mr. Lunsford was born on the 12th of October, 1922, in Shellman, GA to Walter Belvin Lunsford and Ruby Nell Knighton Lunsford. He served his country honorably during World War II in the Army Air Corps. For most of his life, he served as a deacon in his church. He was a loving husband and father of two, a grandfather of five, a great grandfather of 13, and a great-great grandfather to one, 5 step children, 9 step grandchildren, 10 step great grandchildren and 1 step great-great grandchild. His first wife, Thelma King Lunsford, for whom he wrote poetry and jumped the military base fence to visit, died in June of 1996. The next year he married his high school prom date and was married to her for 16 years, Ann Shelley Lunsford. He was slow to anger, quick to listen, and often sacrificed his own comfort to give to others. He was preceded in death by his 1st wife of 52 years and the mother of his children, Thelma King Lunsford; two sisters, Wilma Loree Reed and Cleo Mae Daniels; three brothers in law Jack Reed, Lloyd Daniels, Rev. Bruce Cooper, one son in law Raymond Hasty and 1 step grandchild Michelle Shelley Hartley. He is survived by his 2nd wife of 16 years Ann Shelley Lunsford; sister Sarah Frances Cooper and two children, Johnny E. Lunsford Jr. and daughter in law Sandra Lunsford and Shirley Lunsford Hasty. Five step children, William Ray Shelley, Barbara Ann Price, Deborah Jean Brazzell, Donald Charles Shelley and Michael David Shelley. Five grandchildren, D'Anne Hasty Cribb (Jay Cribb), James Eric Lunsford (Margaret Lunsford), Jeffery Raymond Hasty (Alina Hasty), Dana Michelle Hasty Brandon (Joseph Brandon), Laura Ann Lunsford (fiancAC. Phil Faulkner); 13 great grandchildren, Megan Cribb Gehring (David Gehring), 1 great-great grandson Anderson David Gehring; Mallory Cribb (fiancAC. Blake Becker), Mitchell Cribb, Meredith Cribb, Melissa Cribb, Hannah Brandon, Rebecah Brandon, Isabella Brandon, Koty Hasty, Jeanna Hasty, C.J. Hasty, Kassi Hasty, Jessica Lunsford; 9 Step grandchildren, Monica Dunlap (David Dunlap), Jerry Vincent Price (Candance Price) Lisa Annette Hulme (Jack Hulme), Kimberly Johnson, Brandy Shelley, Donald Charles Shelley Jr., Robert Conrad, Daniel Hoffman, Dawn Shelley; 10 step great grandchildren, Ashley Hartley, Griffin Dunlap, Cory Hall, Tiffany Hall, one step great-great grandchild Elijah Blake Price; Shawn Price, Jessica Hulme, Justin Hulme, Kialsa Johnson, Malana Johnston , Gabriel Reed. Honorary Pallbearers will be Eric Lunsford, Jeff Hasty, Jay Cribb and Joseph Brandon, Blake Becker, Phil Faulkner and the deacons of Pine Grove Baptist Church. Flowers will be accepted or those wishing can make a contribution to Pine Grove Baptist Church at 112 Wright Rd. Phenix City, AL 36869.