Clifton Wayne Johnson

Viewed: 4,795

Clifton Wayne Johnson, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather stepped into the glorious presence of his Savior with Coach Bear Bryant leading him through the Pearly Gates on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Born on June 11, 1947, to Marion and Gladys Johnson, the only child, Wayne spent most of his younger days playing baseball or delivering newspapers. It wasn’t long before Wayne demonstrated his entrepreneurial talents and in the early 70s, he started his own newspaper with a distribution of 500 and spent early mornings delivering papers before school. On Saturday mornings he would help his mom do laundry and chores. Once he was finished, he would be able to play baseball with his friends. It was his entrepreneurial spirit and his hatred for folding clothes that guided him to take his income to buy his mother a new dryer so he could get out earlier on Saturdays. Wayne certainly was filled with vision. Having no place to play ball, Wayne spotted a vacant lot in his neighborhood and set about cleaning it up to create a baseball diamond. Soon after, Wayne and some of his friends organized a band called The Impacts, and he began a career in the music industry playing drums. Following his love for music, Wayne opened Cowboy’s, formerly known as The Club, and was able to book big names for concerts for the Dothan area. He ran Cowboy’s along with his wife Sara for many years until they sold it. Not ones to be idle, Wayne and Sara soon opened Dothan Linen Service and operated it together until 2024 when the business burned.

Wayne was mostly known for his love for Alabama football as well as his sense of humor. He had a quick wit and would sharpen it every morning when he’d get together with his friends at Waffle House. Oh, to be a fly on the wall! There is no doubt there were many colorful stories told as well as discussions about the world, politics and mostly Alabama football. Wayne was most certainly an armchair quarterback when he and Sara weren’t on the road to go to the games – even going as far as Hawaii to see the Alabama play. Sara ended up in the hospital in Hawaii and had to have her appendix removed but not even that stopped Wayne from going to the game. He sold her ticket and bought beer.

As a past president of The Dothan Jaycees, Wayne was always thinking of ways to enrich the city that he loved. Wayne added mentor to his list of many talents and coached a local Little League baseball team thereby passing on his love of sports to many young hearts in the Dothan area.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 41 years Saralynn Johnson; his daughters, Hope Johnson and Hayley Blount (Ken); grandchildren Peyton Chestnut, Austin Chestnut, Hannah Cochran, Jaycee Cochran, Dylan Blount, and Taylor Fitzgerald (Christopher). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, James Bennett Fitzgerald and Adalynn Grace Cochran, as well as so many friends and family members.

The community is invited to pay their respects at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, where a service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. The service will be officiated by Pastor Chad Hixson, and burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Ward Wilson Funeral Home.