Mr. Johnnie James Tolbert, Sr. of 713 East 27th Avenue, Cordele, Georgia died Saturday, June 11th at Tallahassee Memorial Health Care in Tallahassee, Florida.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2:00 PM at the J. W. Williams Funeral Home Porte Cochere in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.  Everyone in attendance is asked to please wear a mask and to practice social distancing.

Mr. Johnnie James Tolbert, Sr. was born August 23, 1944, in Crisp County, Georgia.  He was born to the late Deacon John Mathis Tolbert and Mrs. Willie Eva Buckle Tolbert. He accepted Christ as at early age.  He was a member of Mount Olive Church (Buck Hill) and a member of Greater Morris Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.  He sang with the Voices of Greater Morris Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church choir. He was member of the Brotherhood Ministry and sang with the male choir.  He was involved in community work with Men on the Move.

Johnnie received his education at A. S. Clark and the Crisp County School System. He was employed as a bus driver for 24 years with Miami-Dade Transit.

Johnnie loved his family and enjoyed spending time socializing with family and friends.  He loved grilling, fishing, and attending car racing. His grandchildren and great grandchildren affectionally referred to Johnnie as "Pop".

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his daughter, Mrs. Patricia Tolbert Warren and his siblings Mrs. Minnie Tolbert Johnson, Mrs. Linda Tolbert Perry, and Ms. Lucy Mae Tolbert. Johnnie was the eldest of six children.

He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife of fifty-six years, Mrs. Juanita Mathis Tolbert; his children Mr. Johnnie James (Audrey) Tolbert. Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia and Mr. Marcus Lamar Tolbert, Sr. of Cordele, Georgia; one sister Mrs. Estelle Grant of Savannah, Georgia; one brother, Mr. John Tolbert, Jr. of Cordele, Georgia; his aunts Mrs. Theron Jones of Cordele, Georgia, Mrs. Jimmie Sorrey of Jacksonville, Florida, Mrs. Dorothy Tolbert and Mrs. Kathleen Tolbert of Cordele, Georgia, Mrs. Nettie Merriweather of Washington, Georgia; one son in-law, Telley Warren of Miami, Florida; four sisters in-law Mrs. Cynthia Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida, Mrs. Shirley Mathis of Vienna, Georgia, Ms. Debra Fenn of Miami, Florida and Mrs. Liz Noble of Miami, Florida; two brothers in-law Mr. Tommy Mathis of Cordele, Georgia and Mr. James Noble of Miami, Florida; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a very special and devoted niece Mrs. Debra Graham; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and many, many sorrowing friends including Mr. Ricky Byrd, Mr. Aaron Kyles, Mr. Theron Hickmon, Mr.  Joe Rogers, W.D., and a very special friend, Mr. Alan Smiley of Miami, Florida.