John T. "Johnnie" Brasington's Obituary
Gainesville lost a long-time friend and public servant on May 23, 2015. Johnnie Brasington, age 104, died in his sleep, at Roberts Haven Hospital in Palatka .
Johnnie,in the beginning ,worked at the Star garage with his father to help support his younger brothers and sister. Through consistent and tireless work, Johnnie sold automobile parts, managed a service station and began selling used cars, while in high school.
Johnnie’s steadfastness and leadership were evident to his Gainesville High School classmates who elected him as Senior Class President when he graduated in 1929.
In the summer of 1932, Johnnie met the love of his life, Martha Iris,his soulmate. On August 1, 1933, Martha and Johnnie eloped and were married at the courthouse in Brooksville, Florida. His love for Martha can best be summed up by the words of the song that you could hear him sing to her, from time to time, “let me call you sweetheart, for I’m in love with you.”
Johnnie’s reputation as an honest, hard-working business owner, and eternal optimism resulted in him becoming a franchise dealer for Oldsmobile on February 23, 1935, and a franchise dealer for Cadillac on March 8, 1938. It is a testament to his optimism and belief in America that he agreed to sell new cars during the Great Depression. Johnnie’s belief and perseverance were rewarded in that he, with the help of his brothers Lawrence and J.J., built Brasington Oldsmobile Cadillac dealership into a business that operated for 75 years. His peers respected and admired him, as reflected by his election to the Florida Automobile Dealers Association, three times, and to the General Motor’s Dealers’ Council. Further, he was recognized in 1993 as the National Automobile Dealer Association, Dealer of the Year.
He worked tirelessly with the Chamber of Commerce to improve roads and sidewalks for people, worked to improve Gainesville’s access to health care by serving on the Board of Trustees for Alachua General Hospital and helping start North Florida Regional Hospital. He served for 37 years as volunteer for the Alachua County Planning Board and Board of Adjustment. He helped found the Union City Bank, a local bank, serving people in Gainesville. Johnnie was active in the Elks Club, and the Masonic and Shrine Scottish and York Rite, earning the highest distinction of a 33rd degree Mason. Johnnie served as the President of the Gainesville Horse Riding Association four times, and during World War II, he was appointed a Colonel in Governor Fuller Warren’s staff, and served as an Honorary Deputy Sheriff for Alachua County for over 50 years. In 2006 GM honored him as their longest tenured dealer in their history.
Johnnie is preceded in death by his wife, Martha, and son John Edwin. He is survived by his two daughters Barbara Brasington-Crapps and Iris McWilliams, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., in First Baptist Church of Gainesville, 14105 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606 with a reception to follow. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Gainesville, or Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center, 6400 St. Johns Avenue Palatka, Fl 32177.
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