'He was a leader': Funeral service held Tuesday for Harnett deputy killed in crash
A funeral service was held Tuesday for Chris Johnson, a Harnett County deputy killed in a Feb. 6 crash.
Johnson was killed earlier this month after he hit a tractor-trailer on Darroch Road near N.C. Highway 210 in Harnett County. Johnson leaves behind a wife and four children ranging in age from 11 to 25.
The service was held at Central Baptist Church at 6050 Plainview Highway in Dunn. A procession led the family to a cemetery at 375 Pearson Road in Clinton.
Sheriff Wayne Coats talked about Johnson's love for his family.
"We would talk about everything but the sheriffs office," Coats said. "He'd talk about his family. His latest story - he talked to me about a month ago. He said 'Sheriff, I love working here but I can't promise how long I'll be here. My intention is to go home, be a stay at home dad, watch the children, the ballgames and be with family.'"
"I'll close with this, my final words to Chris - well done, my good and faithful servant," Coats said.
An American flag was wrapped around Deputy Johnson's casket. Flowers were lining the front of the room.
Sky 5 flew overhead Thursday as a procession led Johnson's body from Betsy Johnson Hospital to the funeral home. WRAL News spoke with Johnson's brother, who said the deputy always had dreams and aspirations of serving and died doing what he loved.
During the procession, Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton stood with his hand over his heart in downtown Clinton as dozens of blue lights passed in the processional for Johnson.
Hundreds of students and staff at Midway High School, where one of Johnson's children goes to school, lined the rural roadway to pay their respects. As the processional made its way into Clinton, a massive American flag greeted the convoy on U.S. 421.
Thornton, who worked with Johnson 16 years at the Sampson County Sheriffs Office, described the deputy as a dedicated law enforcement officer with more than 25 years of service, including his time as a school resource officer at Highland Middle School in Sanford.
"I can't help but think, when he left home, his family didn't realize he wasn't going to come home," Thornton said. "Chris truly protected and served people in our county and children in Harnett County -- he was a leader."
