Mr. Charles Freddie Johnson

November 22,1933 - December 8,2011. C. Freddie Johnson, 78, of Savannah, died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 with his loving family by his side. C. Freddie Johnson was born in Port Wentworth, Georgia November 22, 1933. He spent the first 40 years of his life there and was educated in Chatham County Schools. His 42 year working career was spent with the Savannah Sugar Refinery where he served in several positions down through the years and retired December 1, 1993 as Human Resources Manager. Before his retirement, he gave business lectures to students at Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University and Brunswick Community College. He was Past President of the lnternational Management Council, Past President of the Society of Human Resource Management and Past Regional President of Antique Automobile Club of America. He was a past member of the Port Wentworth Jaycees and served 8 years with the Georgia Army National Guard and was a member of the historic Savannah Volunteer Guards. He was a member of lsle of Hope Baptist Church. Freddie chaired the Development and Enactment of the First Zoning Ordinance for the City of Port Wentworth and later served on the Planning Commission and Chairman of the Zoning Board. In 1959 he was elected and served on the Port Wentworth City Council. At age 14, Freddie joined Cecil Cheves Chapter, Order of DeMolay where he served until he became a Mason. He was raised a Master Mason in Frank F. Baker Lodge #46, Garden City, Georgia on November 22,1955. He later received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Savannah Consistory in the Valley of Savannah and on October 4, 1000 he was elected to receive the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. The KCCH investiture was conducted in Macon, Georgia on Saturday, November 6, 1999. He became a member of Alee Shrine Temple on November 22, 1975 and was elected to membership in the Oriental Band early in 1976. Through the years he served on virtually every committee of the temple and chaired many of them. He served as Entertainment Chairman of Night in Old Savannah for 6 years. He holds Honorary Memberships in several of the Clubs and Units of Alee Shrine. He is an Honorary Life Member of all Georgia Temples; Al Sihah, Yaraab and Hasan as well as Medinah Temple of Chicago, lll; Alcazah Temple of Montgomery, Al.,
Barak Temple of Monroe, LA and Alhambra Temple of Chattanooga, Tenn. He served as lmperial Marshall's Aide in L991,-92 and as aide to the lmperial Chief Rabban in 1997. ln 1987 he was elected to serve Alee Temple as Recorder and was elected to each succeeding office of the Divan. He was elected and installed as lllustrious Potentate of Alee Temple in January 1992 and was a member of the Cabiri (Past Potentates Association) of Alee which he served as Treasurer for many years. ln October 1998, he was elected to the Royal Order of Jesters, Savannah Court #134. He has served on the Jesters initiation team. Freddie was a former member of the Lodge #183 Order of the Elks, Savannah, Georgia and served on the Board of Trustees for the United Way of the Coastal Empire. He was a volunteer for Royce Learning Center and since his retirement he served several hundred volunteer hours at Candler Hospital. He was a former board member of Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services and former board member of the Private lndustry Council. He was commissioned and held the rank of Colonel on the Staff on the Governor of the State of Kentucky in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, a former member of the Savannah Golf Club, and an active member of the Chatham Artillery Club. ln addition to his voluntary work, Freddie enjoyed playing country music, woodworking, acrylic painting and spending time with Nell at their mountain home. His greatest love of all was his love of the people around him and his dear family. The family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of St. Josephs Hospital for the love and care that they have shown to Freddie. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years Nell, daughters Debra Scott(Harry) and Carole Johnson Wilson(John), son David Johnson(Tina), step son Denny Haygood(Jan), 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel.
Funeral Service will be held at 1 pm on Sunday in the Chapel of Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel with Rev. Billy Miller officiating.
Pallbearers will be Freddie's grandchildren and Honorary Pallbearers will be the Counsel of Isle of Hope Baptist Church, the members of The Cabiri of Alee, and The Savannah Sugar "Over The Hill Gang."
Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens with Masonic Services being conducted by Past Grand Master Clyde Griffin and Officers of Roger Lacey Lodge # 46, F. & A.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation be made to The Shriners Hospital for the Crippled and Burn Children or Isle of Hope Baptist Church.
Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel
7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive.
Savannah, GA 31406
912-927-1999
www.fairhavenfuneralhome.net