Come Help Us Celebrate!

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.”

You are invited to a “Wang dang doodle” of a funeral in celebration of the life of Johnny Williams. Johnny was always a person who “did things his way.” He had a way of
“redefining” the norm and living outside the box. He hated funerals. He loved parties and food and music and good friends to share it with. So this Saturday – we are doing a funeral Johnny’s way – Southern Style.

Please join us as we honor Johnny with smiles instead of sadness. The service will begin at 12noon at Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery and Funeral Home and include a musical video tribute and biography of Johnny’s life, reflections by Pastor Bill Yeldell, a eulogy by Rene Williams, memory moments from friends and a personal poem written by old time friend, Ricky Ebner. Music for the event will be provided by the Rebel Grass band.

Confederate troops will lead the procession of the horse drawn carriage bearing Johnny’s coffin draped with a confederate flag. The funeral dirge will wind its way through the cemetery in a solemn march towards Johnny’s final home. Family and friends are invited to join the procession and walk with him in the final steps of his journey.

At the destination the pallbearers will lift Johnny into his eternal home and the crowd will sing Amazing Grace and Dixie as a last goodbye as the final ceremony of honor is performed with sword and hat.

Down the lane back at the reception area there will be an old fashioned southern barbecue with grills fired up, fish a frying, ham a smoking, ribs a sizzling, chicken frying, turkeys frying and a low country boil bubbling away in a big cauldron. Bags of oysters will be waiting to be shucked and sucked with some good oyster sauce and crackers. Mouth watering “fixins” like peas, potato salad, squash casserole and greens. Dessert will be cobblers and homemade cakes.

We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new friends who followed Johnny on his Journey to Victory. All are welcome to the party. Please come comfortable and casual and colorful. No black necessary! Seminoles can wear team garb!

Best accommodations for those coming from out of town is THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS hotel located at I-295 and Old St Augustine Road. Their phone is (904)899-9000 to book rooms direct. The procession of cars from the hotel will be lead by Chip Bowdren on Saturday morning at 10:30am to the cemetery. It is a 20 mile drive and best to go as a group.

Directions to the hotel from 95 heading South:

Take 95 South and bear right at I-295 following signs towards Orange Park. Once on 295 it is the first exit.

Directions heading North on 95: follow signs to I-295 heading towards orange park. It is the first exit (Old St. Augustine Rd exit) once you are on 295

Directions coming from 1-10: take 1-10 until l-295 hading for Orange Park/Daytona. Continue until you cross the long bridge. Then it is the 2nd exit after the bridge (Old St. Augustine Rd.)

If you are driving in on Saturday morning from out of town your best bet is to meet Chip at the Holiday Inn Express and join the procession to the cemetery so you don’t get lost. Otherwise call the funeral home for specific directions (904)285-1130.

When you arrive there is a name tag table. Please get a tag and proceed inside to sign our guest book.

We hope to see you and meet you and enjoy celebrating Johnny’s life with you!

Beautiful Blessings!

Rene and Scarlett