JOHN THOMAS BRASINGTON

Gainesville, Florida, lost a longtime friend and public servant on May 23, 2015. Johnnie Brasington, 103, died peacefully in his sleep. The family will receive friends at 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home WestArea, 823 NW 143rd St. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 11, at the First Baptist Church, 14105 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, 401 SE 21st Ave., Gainesville.
He is survived by two daughters, Barbara Crapps of Gaines-ville and Iris McWilliams of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren including Thomas Crapps (Cris) of Tallahassee, Steve Crapps of Live Oak, Nancy Crapps of Gainesville, Ed McWilliams and Jack McWilliams of Hollywood/ Los Angeles, John Brasington (Amanda) of Cincinnati, and Denise Hutson (Ben) of Gainesville; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha in 2010 and son John Edwin in 2011.
For 75 years he owned Brasington Cadillac and Olds (B&G Motors). Among many family members who worked in the company were brothers Lawrence, J.J., and Bennie.
Johnnie was born in Bennettsville, South Carolina, on March 21, 1912, to John Julius and Willie Mae Whitaker Brasington. An invitation to work as a mechanic brought Julius to Gainesville for the promise of a better life. Johnnie would continue to build a better life for himself and others.
Johnnie worked with his father at Star Garage after school and helped support the family. He swept up, learned the trade, sold auto parts, managed a service station, and sold used cars. An exceptional student with an outgoing personality, Johnnie was elected Sr. Class President at Gainesville High School, graduating in 1929.
In 1933 he married the love of his life, Martha Iris Shoup. Miss Martha helped him start the business in the early years. They were married for 77 years.
Known for excellent customer service and remarkable civic leadership, Brasington become a franchise dealer for Oldsmobile in 1935 and for Cadillac in 1938. He was active in Florida Automobile Dealers Association and General Motors Dealers Council. In 1993 he was National Automobile Dealers Association's Dealer of the Year. He was honored by General Motors and featured as one of the country's top car dealers in Time magazine. In 2006 he was honored as General Motors' longest tenured dealer.
Brasington worked with the Chamber of Commerce to improve roads and sidewalks. He served on the Board of Trustees of Alachua General Hospital and helped start North Florida Re-gional Hospital. He volunteered for 37 years on the Alachua County Planning Board and Board of Adjustment. He helped found University City Bank and the Boys Club.
For over 50 years he was an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of Alachua County. During World War II, he was appointed Colonel on Gov. Fuller Warren's staff. He achieved the highest rank of 33rd-degree Mason (Scottish Rite) and Shriner (York Rite).
He was a member of the Gainesville Country Club, active in the Elks Club, and President of the Gainesville Horse Riding Association. An avid sportsman, he told stories about duck hunting, shooting squirrels, and fishing nearly every lake, pond, and river in Florida. Friends, customers, and family spent countless hours enjoying his lively stories and funny jokes.
Johnnie Brasington loved cars, machines, and people. For him, everyone was a "neighbor." As a longtime member of First Baptist Church, he shared his Christian faith through actions and words. He will be missed by so many whose lives were made richer by his presence.