Johnnie's first wife had picked him up from work. They were going home and crossed the rail road tracks in Alabaster and they were hit by an Am Trek train. His wife and daughter, Dianne were killed immediately.  HIs other daughter, Jenny landed on top of her mother. Johnnie was not physically injured but was emotionally destroyed, after the death of his wife and daughter.

Johnnie was about 25 years old when he met, Shirley Carroll. She was about 5 years younger that him. He worked with her father at the lumber yard. The two eventually married. They had a still born son, Phillip. and two daughter, Dianne and Jenny. 

Johnnie and Shirley were married close to the old post office at the 4 way stop in Greenpond.  

Johnnie took the bus with his friend, Elbert Watts and traveled to Chicago. He really enjoyed his time there, he talked about it many years later. He talked about meeting a lady by the name of Ann, who was in a motorcycle gang. He also talked about meeting many people in Chicago. He returned to Alabama after his mother became sick. He talked about living around skid row.