Listed most recent to oldest
Joseph Bernard 'Joe' Hendley
Birth: May 24, 1944
Death: December 12, 2012
Obituary
Mr. Joseph “Joe” Hendley, age 68, of Cowarts, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at his home.
Funeral Services will be held 3 pm Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Gamble officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Joe’s granddaughter, Savannah Goldsmith, will provide graveside music.
Joe was born May 24, 1944 in Bullock County, AL and lived there the early part of his life. He moved to Abbeville at an early age and was a 1963 graduate of Abbeville High School. He is a US Army veteran and served in Korea. He later worked with the Dothan Police Department and Farley Nuclear Plant as an inspector prior to working with Del-Cook Lumber Company in Adel, GA before retiring in 2002. Joe was an avid University of Alabama football fan who enjoyed fishing, camping and entertaining family and friends.
His parents, Annie Owena and Clyde Hendley and his brother, Bill “Bubba” Hendley, all of Abbeville, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Saundra Hendley of Cowarts; one son, Joey (Stacy) Hendley of Cowarts; two daughters, Penni (Rob) Durham of Dothan and Kelli (Mark) Hunt of Enterprise; three grandchildren, Brandon and Savannah Goldsmith and Preston Hendley; four sisters, Molly “Tootsie” Alford of Opp, Gloria (Joe) Hicks of Eufaula, Sheila (Jimmy) Whitehead of Abbeville, Deborah Stephenson of Abbeville; and two brothers, Buddy Hendley of Dothan, Don (Judy) Hendley of Abbeville. He has numerous well-loved nieces and nephews, as well as, his best friend and beloved dog, Rusty.
The family would like to thank everyone for the kind words, remembrances, support and kindness during the loss of our husband, father.....
Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements. Please call us or visit www.SunsetMemorialPark.com for more information.
Burial: Sunset Memorial Park, Midland City, Dale County, Alabama, USA - Plot: Garden of Peace, Lot 310-B, #1
Criminal Details
The Dothan Eagle
Dec. 31, 2013
Houston County has eight capital murder cases pending and none went to trial over the last two years.
Half of them have scheduled trial dates set for later this year, including one as early as next month.
Two of the eight pending capital murder suspects will now be approaching the seven and eight-year marks in 2014.
The oldest of the pending cases is also the first one scheduled for trial this upcoming year.
Marcus Rivers, 26, of Dothan, was charged by Dothan police with capital murder robbery in the shooting death of Patrick Dixon on April 19, 2006.
The shooting happened near the intersection of Hamilton Street and Third Avenue in Dothan. He was also charged with attempted murder for the injuries suffered by Tyrance Byrd during the same shooting.
Two other people, Everett Morton and Michael James, already went to court for their involvement in the Dixon murder.
James pleaded guilty to a lesser murder charge and received a 30-year prison sentence. Morton was already convicted of capital murder, but that case has been reversed for a new trial.
Attorneys Derek Yarbrough and Shaun McGhee were appointed to represent Rivers in court. Rivers has been scheduled for trial on Feb. 10, 2014, in front of Circuit Court Judge Michael Conaway.
All eight of the capital murder suspects remain held in the Houston County Jail without bail.
If convicted of capital murder each suspect faces the death penalty or life in prison without the opportunity for parole.
Najee Brown
Birth: circa 1987
Death: November 12, 2012
Criminal Details
DothanEagle.com
Staff Reports - Nov 13, 2012 Updated Jul 15, 2020
Eufaula wreck victims identified, remembered
The Eufaula Police Department has released the names of the two victims who died from injuries sustained in a Monday wreck near the South Eufaula Avenue/Paul Lee Parkway intersection.
The victims were identified as Najee Brown, 25, and Marlon Brown, 20, both of Eufaula. They were reportedly brothers.
The wreck occurred just after 6 p.m. and involved two vehicles. The two victims were in a Honda Accord, and the other driver, who was not injured, was in a Jeep Wrangler.
Officers are not releasing any additional information on the incident at this time. The Barbour County District Attorney's Office is also investigating the wreck.
According to Eufaula High coach Dan Klages, both Najee and Marlon were well liked among teachers and students. Najee was a defensive lineman for the football team in 2004, the year Klages was promoted to head coach. Marlon won the scholastic award for the junior varsity basketball team in 2009.
"It's a shame to see young people of this caliber no longer with us," Klages said. They were 'Yes sir, no sir', respectful kids - the ones you expected to be successful in life."
Source: View DothanEagle.com Article
Criminal Details
DothanEagle.com
Tiffiny Woo - Nov 15, 2012 Updated Jul 15, 2020
Georgia driver faces murder charges in Monday wreck
A Georgia man is facing murder charges following a Monday night wreck which claimed the lives of two brothers.
Matthew Timothy Jenkins, 19, of Griffin, Ga. was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of murder and one count of driving under the influence. He was being held in the Eufaula City Jail as of Thursday morning.
Bail was set at $400,000 - $200,000 for each murder charge. Jenkins was expected to bond out sometime Thursday.
Brothers Najee Brown, 25, and Marlon Brown, 20, were traveling south and Jenkins was traveling north on South Eufaula Avenue near the Paul Lee Parkway intersection when the wreck occurred. The two brothers were in a Honda Accord, and Jenkins was in a Jeep Wrangler. Jenkins’ Wrangler reportedly “T-boned” the Accord.
Sgt. Larry Hubbard of the Eufaula Police Department said the wreck occurred around 6:15 p.m. Monday. Deputy Coroner Kim Benefield said Marlon Brown was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Najee Brown was pronounced dead in the emergency room. Jenkins was reportedly uninjured.
Officers are not releasing further details on the accident until their investigation concludes. The Barbour County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating the wreck.
Source: View DothanEagle.com Article
Testimonials
Marlon Brown
Birth: circa 1992
Death: November 12, 2012
Criminal Details
DothanEagle.com
Staff Reports - Nov 13, 2012 Updated Jul 15, 2020
Eufaula wreck victims identified, remembered
The Eufaula Police Department has released the names of the two victims who died from injuries sustained in a Monday wreck near the South Eufaula Avenue/Paul Lee Parkway intersection.
The victims were identified as Najee Brown, 25, and Marlon Brown, 20, both of Eufaula. They were reportedly brothers.
The wreck occurred just after 6 p.m. and involved two vehicles. The two victims were in a Honda Accord, and the other driver, who was not injured, was in a Jeep Wrangler.
Officers are not releasing any additional information on the incident at this time. The Barbour County District Attorney's Office is also investigating the wreck.
According to Eufaula High coach Dan Klages, both Najee and Marlon were well liked among teachers and students. Najee was a defensive lineman for the football team in 2004, the year Klages was promoted to head coach. Marlon won the scholastic award for the junior varsity basketball team in 2009.
"It's a shame to see young people of this caliber no longer with us," Klages said. They were 'Yes sir, no sir', respectful kids - the ones you expected to be successful in life."
Source: View DothanEagle.com Article
Criminal Details
DothanEagle.com
Tiffiny Woo - Nov 15, 2012 Updated Jul 15, 2020
Georgia driver faces murder charges in Monday wreck
A Georgia man is facing murder charges following a Monday night wreck which claimed the lives of two brothers.
Matthew Timothy Jenkins, 19, of Griffin, Ga. was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of murder and one count of driving under the influence. He was being held in the Eufaula City Jail as of Thursday morning.
Bail was set at $400,000 - $200,000 for each murder charge. Jenkins was expected to bond out sometime Thursday.
Brothers Najee Brown, 25, and Marlon Brown, 20, were traveling south and Jenkins was traveling north on South Eufaula Avenue near the Paul Lee Parkway intersection when the wreck occurred. The two brothers were in a Honda Accord, and Jenkins was in a Jeep Wrangler. Jenkins’ Wrangler reportedly “T-boned” the Accord.
Sgt. Larry Hubbard of the Eufaula Police Department said the wreck occurred around 6:15 p.m. Monday. Deputy Coroner Kim Benefield said Marlon Brown was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Najee Brown was pronounced dead in the emergency room. Jenkins was reportedly uninjured.
Officers are not releasing further details on the accident until their investigation concludes. The Barbour County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating the wreck.
Source: View DothanEagle.com Article
Testimonials
Tiffani Paige Grissett
Birth: February 23, 1981
Death: August 10, 2012
Obituary
Tiffani Paige Grissett, 31, of Ozark passed away Friday, August 10, 2012 in Wicksburg.
Funeral services will be 1 pm Thursday, August 16, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12-1 pm prior to the service at the funeral home.
Paige was born February 23, 1981 in Houston County and lived the early part of her life in Clio, AL. She attended Ariton High School and resided in Denver, CO prior to moving to Ozark. She had a passion for singing. Paige was preceded in death by her father Hayward Sheppard and a sister Diane Comalander.
Survivors include her sons, Braxton Sheppard and Arariel "A.J." Robinette; a daughter Skylar Robinette; her fiancé Mark Tierce; her mother Faye Sheppard; brothers, Christopher Sheppard and Darion Sheppard; a sister MaShawna Nuzzi; several nieces and nephews.
Criminal Details
Associated Press
august 10, 2012
A strip club customer angry over getting kicked out returned to the club with a pistol, killing three people and wounding one, authorities said Friday.
Ryan Clark Petersen, 22, of Enterprise faces three counts of capital murder in the killing of the club owner's son, an employee and a customer and is charged with one count of attempted murder of another customer, Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes said Friday.
Hughes said the shooting occurred shortly before midnight Thursday at Teasers in Wicksburg, just west of the Dothan city limits. A sign outside advertises "Cold Beer Hot Women."
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd identified the dead as dancer Tiffani Paige Grissett, 31, of Dale County; the owner's son, Cameron Eubanks, 20, of Wicksburg; and customer Thomas Robins Jr., 59, of Dothan. Wounded was 33-year-old Scotty Russell of Opp.
Byrd said Petersen "made inappropriate advances toward a dancer and was asked to leave the club."
Eubanks escorted him out. He went to his car, retrieved a pistol, and returned to shoot Eubanks just outside the front door, the coroner said.
Grissett was gunned down in the women's restroom, and Robins was shot near the back of the club, apparently while trying to help others, he said.
The sheriff said Eubanks' father lived behind the club, heard the shots and fired three times at Petersen as he tried to get in his car to flee. Petersen was not hit, but he ran into nearby woods, where officers found him hiding about 7 a.m. He had shed his shirt and shoes and was wearing only tan shorts when officers found him and he surrendered.
Officials said Petersen fired nine shots and some of the victims were hit multiple times. He was being held in jail without bond Friday. If convicted of capital murder, he could face a death sentence or life in prison without parole.
Court officials said he did not yet have an attorney. A phone listing for his address in Enterprise no longer worked Friday
The Dothan Eagle
Matt Elofson - Aug 10, 2012
Anna Mechling likely won’t forget how she crawled behind the bar to take cover from gunfire at her place of employment.
Mechling, 25, a five-year veteran dancer, said a shooting at Teasers nightclub where she works has left her in shock.
Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes outlined some of the details Friday of gunfire that erupted at Teasers, a topless nightclub. He said deputies responded to a report of gunfire around 11:36 p.m. Thursday at the nightclub located at the intersection of U.S. 84 and Alabama Highway 134 in Wicksburg.
“I’m a dancer there. I heard two or three shots and I thought it was a speaker blowing,” Mechling said. “I was sitting at a table with a customer in between the two stages. We had just got done with the dollar dances, and then I heard a couple of shots go off. I got my high heels off and quickly crawled like hell behind the bar.”
Hughes said investigators captured Ryan Clark Petersen, 22, of Enterprise, and charged him with three felony counts of capital murder and a single felony count of attempted murder. Petersen remains held without bail at the Houston County Jail.
Hughes said the shooting left three people dead, and a fourth injured.
Hughes released what happened with the following details:
The gunfire apparently started after a man had been escorted out of the nightclub after an altercation. He said the man, who he identified as Petersen, retrieved a handgun from his car and then used it to kill a man standing at the doorway of the club before continuing inside and firing a few more times.
Hughes said the gunman initially ran toward his vehicle, but ran away after the owner of the nightclub apparently started shooting at him.
Hughes described how a multi-agency manhunt started for the gunman in the area surrounding the nightclub. He said there were more than 30 sheriff’s deputies along with Dothan police officers and assistance from the Dale County Sheriff’s helicopter. He said officers found the gunman in a field with very thick undergrowth. He also said Enterprise police assisted in the investigation.
Petersen apparently lost his shirt and shoes during an effort to escape law enforcement. As deputies escorted Petersen to jail he could be seen with scratches about his torso along with others that left his feet bloodied. Two tattoos could be seen on Petersen’s body -- a peace sign on one shoulder and an anarchy symbol on the other shoulder.
Hughes said they found the alleged murder weapon, a 9 mm handgun. He said the gun was legally purchased.
Hughes said a total of nine shots were fired during the shooting. He declined to say how many times each victim was shot or where. He said the first victim, 20-year-old Cameron Paul Eubanks, was the nightclub owner’s son. He said 31-year-old Tiffani Paige Grissett and 59-year-old Thomas Robins Jr. were both shot to death inside the club. He said a fourth person, Scotty Russell, 33, of Opp, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.
“This was not some preconceived plot to go in and start killing people,” Hughes said. “We’ve had quite a few calls out there, most of them minor up to this point.”
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd said he responded to the nightclub around 6 a.m. Byrd said Eubanks was found just outside the club with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. He said Grissett was found in the ladies restroom inside the club with a single gunshot wound to abdomen. He said Robins was found in the VIP area with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.
“This is probably the most homicides that I have ever dealt with,” Byrd said. “It’s just tragic to have so many people senselessly murdered. It’s heartbreaking.”
Mechling recalled seeing Petersen in the nightclub earlier in the evening as she danced.
“I do remember when I was on stage he was just standing there looking at me,” Mechling said. “I remember seeing him and he was just sitting by himself.”
Thomas Bowdoin "Rocky" Robins, Jr
Birth: August 8, 1953
Death: August 10, 2012
Obituary
Thomas Bowdoin "Rocky" Robins, Jr., 59, of Dothan passed away Friday, August 10, 2012 in Wicksburg, AL.
Funeral services will be 6 pm Monday, August 13, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Kocsis officiating. Graveside services will be at 12 noon Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 5-6 pm Monday prior to the service at the funeral home.
Rocky was born August 8, 1953 in Dallas, TX and moved to Selma, AL at an early age. He was a 1971 graduate of Selma High School and also attended college at Marion Military Institute and the University of Alabama. He moved to Dothan in the 1970's working most of that time as a paramedic for Pilcher's ambulance service. He also worked for several years for the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. He attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Dothan. Rocky was preceded in death by his father Thomas Bowdoin Robins.
Survivors include his mother Fannie Hart Robins of Dothan; brothers, Andrew L. (Deena DeVan) Robins of Pensacola, FL and Brooks H. (Lynn Massengale) Robins of Renton, WA; a sister Mary Beth Robins (Steve) Morris of Alabaster, AL; a daughter Fedwa Maaroufi of Dothan; several nieces and nephews and many loving cousins.
Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements.
Burial: New Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, USA
Criminal Details
Southeast Sun
Carly Omenhiser and Kim Lewis - Aug 10, 2012
Three people are dead and one injured after an overnight shooting at Teasers night club in Wicksburg.
The shooting occurred at about 11:30 p.m., Aug. 9, and the shooting suspect was apprehended at about 7 a.m. this morning.
Ryan Clark Petersen, 22, of Enterprise was arrested after leaving Teasers on foot following the shooting. Authorities scoured the area during the night.
Petersen was located by the Houston County Sheriff's Department and is being transferred to the Houston County Jail.
A witness says Petersen had been drinking and acted inappropriately to one of the employees and was asked to leave. When he returned inside the club he was brandishing a gun, said to be a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Reports are he shot a bouncer, an employee and two other men.
The names of the deceased are Cameron Eubanks, 20, who is the owner's son; Tiffany Paige Grissett, 31, of Ozark; and Thomas Robins, 59, of Dothan, who was a patron at the club.
Also shot was Scotty Russell, 33, of Opp, another patron at the club. Russell was shot in the arm and is believed to have non-life threatening injuries.
Petersen has been charged with three capital murders and attempted murder.
WTVY.com
Ken Curtis - Mar. 21, 2017
DOTHAN, Ala.-- A man convicted of fatally shooting three people at a strip club near Dothan was sentenced Tuesday to the death penalty.
Ryan Clark Petersen listens during testimony at his murder trial in this December 12, 2016 photo.
Ryan Clark Petersen, 33, of Enterprise was found guilty December 23 of capital murder following the lengthiest trial in Houston County history—17 days. Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim accepted the jury’s death penalty recommendation.
Killed August 9, 2012 at Teaser’s Club were dancer Tiffani Paige Grissett, 31, of Dale County; the owner's son, Cameron Eubanks, 20, of Wicksburg; and patron Thomas Robins Jr., 59, of Dothan. A fourth victim was wounded.
During closing arguments, defense attorney Ben Freeman argued Petersen’s actions were involuntary due to intoxication combined with emotional issues.
Clinical psychologist Mark Cunningham testified Petersen wasn’t aware of implications when he fired the fatal shots at the club in the Wicksburg comunity. He also told the jury Petersen needed medication.
Mendheim wasn’t bound by the jury’s recommendation. However, a bill pending in the Alabama Legislature mandates judges must accept recommendation in capital cases.
Petersen is expected to be transferred almost immediately to death row at Holman Prison.
Cameron Paul Eubanks
Birth: July 14, 1992
Death: August 9, 2012
Obituary
Cameron Paul "Cam-Cam" Eubanks of Wicksburg passed away Thursday evening, August 9, 2012. He was 20.
Funeral services will be 10:00am Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from the Daleville Baptist Church with Rev. Judd Waldrop officiating. Burial will follow in the Daleville Memorial Gardens cemetery. The family will receive friends at Daleville Baptist Church Monday, August 13, 2012 from 6-8pm.
Cameron was born July 14, 1992 in San Antonio Texas to Mr. Paul A. and Belinda Eubanks. He was a 2010 graduate and former band member of Wicksburg High School. He was also enrolled at Wallace Community College.
Survivors include his father and step-mother: Paul Eubanks (Crystal),Newton, his mother and step-father: Belinda Finamore (Anthony), Kissimmee, FL, sister: Brianna Gayle Eubanks, Newton, step-sister: Shealon Honea, Newton, two step-brothers: Anthony Finamore Jr., Cape Coral, FL, Logan Smith, Newton, maternal grandparents: Connie Marie, San Antonio, TX, Antonio and Judy Marie, Clarksville, TN, great-grandmother: Frances Hernadez, New Braunfels, TX, paternal great-grandmother: Alice Eubanks, Water Valley, MS, several aunts and uncles and other relatives.
Burial: Daleville Memorial Gardens, Daleville, Dale County, Alabama, USA
Criminal Details
The Dothan Eagle
Matt Elofson - Jul. 12, 2010
A convicted sex offender faces a murder charge after Geneva County Sheriff’s investigators charged him with stabbing a Samson man to death over the weekend.
Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Helms said detectives charged Donnie Mullins, 52, with murder in the stabbing death of 34-year-old Jamie Elmore. Helms said the stabbing happened Saturday evening a few miles outside Samson on the side of Alabama Highway 153. Helms said the men were traveling in a vehicle driven by Mullins when a confrontation occurred between them.
“There was a verbal altercation, they pulled off to the side of the road, and a fight started between Jamie Elmore and Donnie Mullins,” Helms said. “During the fight, Jamie Elmore received multiple stab wounds to the upper torso.”
The stabbing happened around 8:30 p.m., about four miles south of Samson. Helms said a passing motorist stopped and held Mullins until deputies arrived shortly afterward. Helms said there were two other people in the vehicle who witnessed the stabbing.
Helms said deputies have taken at least two knives into evidence, including one he referred to as a pocket knife. Helms also said alcohol was found in the vehicle, but it’s unclear whether anyone was under the influence at the time of the stabbing.
Helms said investigators with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation also assisted deputies in working the county’s first murder for 2010.
Mullins remained held Monday without bond in the Geneva County Jail.
Max Motley, the Geneva County coroner, said he pronounced Elmore dead around 9:17 p.m. Saturday at Wiregrass Hospital. Motley said Elmore appeared to have died from multiple stab wounds about his body, including his stomach, chest and back.
Daren "Buster Crab" Minniefield
Birth: Nov 21, 1966
Death: May 17, 2012
No Obituary Found
Criminal Details
WTVY.com
Staff Reports - May 22, 2012
Dothan and Headland Residents Arrested for Capital Murder
The Headland Police Department has made arrests in the murder of a Headland man.
Investigators with the Headland Police Department with the assistance from the Henry County Sheriff's Office / Abbeville Police Task Force arrested four Wiregrass residents on Monday for the murder of 45 year old Darren Minniefield.
46 year old Cassandra White of Headland, 47 year old Charles Turner, 52 year old Mary Louis Partridge and 22 Jarvis Jackson all of Dothan are being charged with capital murder in Minniefield's death.
Minnifield was beaten and left at a local hospital on May 3rd and later succumbed to his injuries on May 17th.
The arrests come after extensive investigative work and several search warrants being served.
Headland Police are continuing the investigation and more arrests could be made.
All four individuals are being held in the Henry County Jail and should have their initial appearance later today.
Source: View WTVY.com Article
Criminal Details
AL.com
Erin Edgemon - May 28, 2015
Capital murder conviction of Dothan man in 2012 beating death upheld
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals recently upheld the capital murder conviction of a 50-year-old Dothan man in the 2012 beating death of Darren Minniefield.
Charles Turner, 50, was convicted in Henry County Circuit Court in August 2014, the Attorney General's Office stated in a release.
According to evidence presented at trial, Turner's sister, Cassandra White, lured Minniefield to her mother's house in Headland on May 2, 2012.
After he arrived, Turner and allegedly another man, Jarvis Jackson, struck Minniefield from behind. The two men then severely beat Minniefield while he was on the floor, causing serious brain injuries, according to the evidence.
Turner and Jackson then carried Minniefield out into the yard, sat him in a chair and poured water on him.
Afterward, Turner and Jackson moved Minniefield inside a garage where he remained for several hours, according to evidence.
Minniefield was transported to Dothan Medical Center where he was in a coma and on life support for an unspecified length of time before dying of blunt force trauma to the head.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Henry County District Attorney Doug Valeska's office.
Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and subsequently sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
Capital murder charges are pending against Jackson.
Source: View AL.com Article
Mike Johnson
Birth: September 16, 1965
Death: January 30, 2012
Obituary
Mike Johnson, a resident of County Road 83, South, Headland, died early Monday morning, January 30, 2012, at the family farm. He was 46.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 2, 2012, in the Cloverdale Baptist Church, 806 Dexter Street, Dothan, with Reverend Aaron Dickinson, Reverend Bill Smith and Dr. C.J. Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory, between Headland and Dothan. Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of funeral arrangements. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 P. M. Wednesday at the mortuary in Headland. At other times, the family will be at the home of his mother, Nan Johnson, 620 Peachtree Street, Headland.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Mike Johnson was a lifelong resident of Headland and was a 1983 graduate of Headland High School. He was a member of the Cloverdale Baptist Church and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Henry County Chapter. Mike was engaged in farming as the owner and operator of Johnson and Sons Farms, LLC. He was preceded in death by his father, Buell Don Johnson, Jr.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Marjorie Johnson; four children, Blake Johnson and Connor Johnson, both of Headland; Corey Butterfield and Casey Butterfield, both of Dothan; his mother, Nan York Johnson, Headland; a brother, Brad Johnson, Headland; aunts and uncles, Sara and Jimmy Skipper, Wicksburg; Sue Shelley, Tumbleton Community; Ted and Rona York, Clarksville, FL; Father-in-law, William Quesenberry, Orlando, FL; Mother-in-law, Fran Moore and husband, Jimmy, Norfolk, VA; sister-in-law, Lou Ann Reeves, Norkfolk, VA; brothers-in-law, Richard Quesenberry and wife, Laurie, Newnan, GA; William Quesenberry, Jr. and wife, Nelda, Norfolk, VA; numerous cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Curry Parker, Myron Johnson, Ted Taylor, John Blankenship, Kenny Woodham and John Deal.
Criminal Details
WTVY.com
Devon Sellers - Jan. 30, 2012
Headland, AL - Police say an attempted robbery turned fatal Monday morning, and the victim made his own 9-1-1 call.
“From what we understand he was coming out here early this morning to go hunting, came up on his property and that’s where he was confronted,” says Headland Police Chief Mark Jones.
Police say Mike Johnson confronted two robbery suspects at his business, Johnson Hay Farms on County Road 83. That is just outside of Headland.
Jones says, “Received a call at about 5-40 this morning from the victim, stated he had been shot he confronted two suspects who’d been stealing equipment from his farm.”
Unfortunately, the only description he was able to give in the brief call was the suspects are men.
When police arrived Johnson was found dead behind the building.
Investigators spent the morning combing the scene for evidence.
“The ABI, The Henry County Sheriff’s office Task force, Abbeville police department, Houston county sheriff’s office with the technology and stuff with the homeland security that we’ve got here this is what’s going to help break the case with evidence,” says Jones.
It’s a case Chief Jones is making a priority.
“It’s hard even in a large city working a homicide having a death in your area. Especially when you’re dealing with a small area like here where everybody knows everybody. It’s hard because you are dealing with friends and family a lot of times when you’re coming to these scenes and it’s hard.”
It’s not only hard for emergency responders. Family and friends lined the road waiting for answers.
Jones says, “He’s very well-known. He’s lived here all of his life. Classmates… I mean he’s very well-known in this area. Him and his family are very good family.”
Police are asking for the public’s help. If you saw a suspicious vehicle or people in the area around 5 to 6 Monday morning, you are urged to contact Headland police at 334-693-2222.