John “JR” Johnson, age 73 of Old Hickory, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024, surrounded by his friends and family. He is preceded in death by his father, Henry Christopher Johnson; mother, Virginia Johnson; brother, Richard “Dick” Johnson.
John is survived by his loving wife, Judy (Henry) Johnson; children, Keith Franklin and Christy Thornton (Reed); grandchildren, Shane Franklin (Sarah) and Chloe Thornton; great-grandchildren, Arora and Rosie Franklin. He is also survived by many brother and sister-in-laws and their children that he loved so dearly.
John was born April 15, 1951 and was a graduate of John Overton High School. He lived a life dedicated to public service, his friends, and his family. A proud veteran of the Metro Nashville Police Department, serving 30 years, earning respect and admiration for his unwavering commitment to his work and community. In addition to his work in law enforcement, John had a unique role as a traffic reporter for Y107 FM with the handle Buck Naked. His unmistakable voice and keen awareness of local roads made him a familiar presence to listeners for many years.
Even after retiring from MNPD, his sense of duty never waned. John spent many years as a traffic patrolman overseeing other retired as well as current officers with the same level of attention and care that defined his entire career. He was a respected leader known for his work ethic, generosity, kindness, and mentorship. His commitment to these things left an indelible mark and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor and announced at a later date.
This obituary was published by Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home – Old Hickory Chapel.
Obituaries provided free for the community.
This obituary was published by Obituaries provided free for the community.
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