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JOHNSTON Vivian "Sec" Gaines Johnston, Jr. - born in Leroy, Alabama on August 27, 1923 and a resident of Mobile for 60 years, died Sunday, February 10, 2013 in Mobile, Alabama. Sec was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Gaines Johnston, Sr., and his wife, Sara Neil Chunn Johnston. He is survived by his sons, Vivian Gaines Johnston, III (Lenore) and Neil Chunn Johnston (Ashley); daughter, Jennifer Johnston Cobb (Linwood); and seven grandchildren, Lisa Johnston Hancock (Jim), Vivian Gaines Johnston, V (Camille), Katherine Johnston McCarter (Caleb), Neil Chunn Johnston, Jr., Lindsay Cobb Rayfield (Cory), Taylor Anne Cobb and Sarah Bond Cobb. Sec was a 1942 graduate of Leroy High School where he played football, wearing #13, and baseball for the Leroy Bears and earned his nickname "Sec" while working with Coach Ben Glover. He attended Auburn University where he, like his Uncle George Johnston of Albany, Georgia, played baseball as a shortstop. He was looking forward to a professional career in baseball but soon left Auburn and joined the United States Navy. Sec served in the United States Navy-V-12 and Pacific Theater as the Navigator aboard the Naval Destroyer Escort USS Damon M. Cummings (DE-643) from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. While in the Navy, he attended Princeton University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Louisville where he and lifelong friend, Duke Miller, were instrumental in founding the Collegiate Council of the United Nations. He also attended the University of Alabama, where he was a Member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Omicron Delta Kappa. Sec was a 1949 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law. As the first Alabamian to attend Tax School, he received his Masters of Tax Law from the New York University School of Law while working with the Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam and Roberts Law Firm on Wall Street. With his tax law degree in hand and a new bride, Sec returned to south Alabama initially practicing with Will Caffey. He joined Charlie Hand, Charlie Arendall, Massey Bedsole and Tommy Greaves in 1952 to form Hand, Arendall, Bedsole, Greaves and Johnston, where he practiced tax, estate, trust, timber, and real estate law for 59 years. Sec was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt, and just be outdoors. He was very active in professional and community organizations and was a respected friend and advisor to many peers. Sec was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Mobile; former Chairman of the Board of Julius T. Wright School for Girls; Co-Founder and former Chairman of the Mobile Community Foundation (now called The Community Foundation of South Alabama); Chairman of the Distribution Committee of The Ben May Charitable Trust; President of The Erie Hall Meyer Charitable Fund, Inc.; Co-Founder with longtime friend, Duke Miller, and National Director of the Collegiate Council for the United Nations; Co-Founder and former Chairman of the Mobile Museum of Art; member of the Advisory Council of the Mobile Museum of Art; member of The Mobile Rotary Club for 35 years and a Paul Harris Fellow; and a member Springhill Baptist Church. Sec was the first Chairman of the Alabama State Bar Tax Law Section, first President of the Mobile Estate Planning Council, former Chairman and member of the Alabama Federal Tax Clinic, member and Examiner of the Alabama Board of Bar Examiners, and a member of the Forest Farmers Association and the Forest Industries Committee on Timber Valuation and Taxation. He was a member of a United States-China Exchange Group, and he conducted legal and tax seminars in China. Sec was a long time member and former State Chairman of the American College of Trust and Estate Council ("ACTEC"). Sec received numerous awards and recognition for his professional and community work. He was particularly proud of receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree from Springhill College. We wish to thank Sec's caregivers: Vivian "Tee" Mitchell, Brenda Finch, Carrie Owens, Felicia Rocker, Janelle Owens, Lucille Clay, Annie Williams, Ida Norwood, Katina Watkins, Glynis Winchester, Marianne Felton, and Diane Richardson. Graveside Service will be held 2 PM, Thursday, February 14, 2013 at Pine Crest Cemetery with Visitation 1 PM until Service time at Pine Crest Funeral Home, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Community Foundation of South Alabama, Post Office Box 990, Mobile, Alabama 36601-0990, Springhill Baptist Church, 2 South McGregor Avenue, Mobile, Alabama, 36608, The University of Mobile, 5735 College Parkway, Mobile, Alabama, 36613-2842, or a charity of your choice.
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With heartfelt sympathy to the Johnston family. What a "true gentleman" who gave so much back to our great city. To God be the glory for Sec's wonderful life that positively affected so many.
Rusty Allman
February 18, 2013
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HE WAS ALWAYS KIND AND FUNNY HE WILL BE MISSED
JEFF & TAMMY ALBRITTON
February 17, 2013
You will be miss
tamecia gable
February 16, 2013
Lenore and Butch,
I'm so sorry for your loss,and I regret that I was not able to be with you and your wonderful family yesterday.Sec will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him,he was a good man.
Much Love, Laura B.
February 15, 2013
Lenore,
I'm so sorry I could not be with you and your family yesterday, but please know how much you all have been in my thoughts and prayers. Much love, Laura B.
February 15, 2013
Our deepest sympathy and prayers for you and your family. Mr. Johnston was a true southern gentleman who will be missed by so many.
Jean & Tommy Parnell
February 14, 2013
To the Family of Vivian Gaines Johnston, Jr. - "Sec" was a wonderful, gracious, kind Southern Gentleman who was thought of fondly by his cousin, Margaret Prim Larkin and the entire Sid Larkin family of Dade City. We send our love to the family.
Suzanne & Jon Larkin
February 13, 2013
Dear Butch,Neil,Jen,and families: Know that you and yours are in our thoughts and prayers,and have been since Jen called. I must say your Dad was a man's man and the kindest, fairest, and smartest man I ever worked for. He was, as far as this Yankee girl is concerned, "a true "Southern Gentlemen." May he enjoy being reunited with those he loved and served in Heaven, and may we who loved him keep him alive in our memories. God Bless...kgl
Kathy & Rusty Lundy
February 13, 2013
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Johnston family.
Michael and Sallie Brown
February 13, 2013
Jennifer, I wish I could be with you and your family at your Dad's service. Your parents were always so kind to me, and I have so many happy memories of visiting in Mobile and Gulf Shores. I will alawys hold dear the memory of dancing with your Father at Lindsay's wedding. I think he had more fun than anyone, with the possible exception of Lindsay and Cory. All my love to you and your brothers. Your Dad was an extraordinary man, but had such a knack of making you feel just as extraordinary. He is with your Mother now, and I am sure that gives you some peace.
Marcia Severance McBratney
February 13, 2013
What a great man your father has been and I am confident his leadership in business and in life has been an inspiration to all who knew him. you have my sympathies.
Sandy McMurphy
February 13, 2013
I first met Sec while serving with him on the Board of Trustees at the University of Mobile. He was for real! We are all blessed by his devotion to the Lord and his greater service to others.
Dr. Mack Morris
February 13, 2013
Jennifer, to you and your entire family I extend my deepest sympathies for your loss. You have a lifetime of memories to comfort you and as long as you and your family live, your father will live always. May God wrap His loving arms around you all, and comfort you all in your time of sorrow.
Lynn Blacksher Morris
February 13, 2013
We thank our gracious Lord for Sec's wonderful life of helping folks great and small, rich and poor.
Daniel Powell
February 12, 2013
Butch and Neil -- I am so sorry to read about Sec, He was such a good man. Please know that you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.
Faye [Brady] Hughes
February 12, 2013
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