Johnnie Briggs

Johnnie A. “Dink” Briggs, 91, passed away peacefully at his home where he was surrounded by love and friendship. A strong and fiercely independent man, Dink, the oldest of three children, was born on April 21, 1925 to Arthur Washington and Jessie Elliott Briggs in their home overlooking Pensacola Bay. He loved the Florida coast where he lived his entire life and as early as age 7, he ran the boat that transported workers out to the wharf in the Bay where they loaded coal. At 17, he joined the United States Navy where he proudly served his country through two wars, World War II and Korea. He often reflected, “We had three meals and day, a place to sleep and brand new shoes….what’s wrong with that?!” Following his Navy career, he retired from the Pensacola News Journal after 30 years of service and then spent several years as a ship’s captain sailing the Gulf of Mexico servicing the oil rigs. He married Mildred Janet Goodwin Butler in April 1957 and became step-father to Phillip Wayne Butler. They were later divorced. While married, he gained legal custody of his “little girl,” Kimberly, and became her “John John”. Together they shared many adventures and a lifetime of love. “You will always be my John John and I will always love you.” Y When asked if he had pets, Dink always answered, “yes, thousands of them.” He was one of the best known beekeepers in Northwest Florida and a member of the Florida Beekeepers Association. He enjoyed his hobby for 45+ years, selling and gifting his honey to many. His bees were some of the most productive in Florida because he loved and cared for them with a passion. In conversation, it wouldn’t take long for the subject of beekeeping to emerge and for him to share the benefits of eating and using honey to cure ailments. Dink appreciated and supported the local arts, attending Gallery Nights and other special events as his health would allow. He taught screen printing at the Pensacola Jr. College and received many prints and paintings as gifts from his students. He was also an active member of the Artistic Woodturners of NW Florida club where he learned to turn wood on a lathe and made many lasting friendships. He enjoyed traveling across the country to attend Woodturning Symposiums so he could learn the latest techniques. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Billy D. Briggs and Eugene F. Briggs. Dink is survived by Kimberly (Jay) Telford, great-grandson, Jayson (Allison) Telford and his nephew and namesake, Johnnie Briggs. He also cherished his dear friends, Leland Leonard, Sally Leonard (formerly Sally Cooey), Doug and Wanda Corbin and the friends he met for breakfast at the Gulf Breeze McDonalds every morning for many years. He looked forward to these interactions and treasured the friends he made along the Gulf Coast. The family wishes to thank Trisha Driscoll, Kindred Home Care, the hospitalists and staff at Gulf Breeze Baptist Hospital, Linda and the staff at Granny Nannies, especially the caregivers Erin, Eleanor and Bruce and Emerald Coast Hospice, especially nurses June, Zack and SW Rolanda for their compassionate medical and end of life care of Dink. Jay and I truly appreciate all of the support we felt from each and every one of you. You all taught us so much and it was such a pleasure experiencing you all at your best when we were clearly not at ours. A Celebration of Dink’s Life will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM with a visitation prior to the service from 10 to 11:00 AM at Rose Lawn Funeral Home at 2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Florida. Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Florida State Beekeepers Association at http://www.floridabeekeepers.org/ or the Wounded Warriors Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ .

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Friday, December 16, 2016
10:00 AM

Service

Funeral Service

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Friday, December 16, 2016
11:00 PM

Cemetery

Burial

Barrancas National Cemetery
One Cemetery Road
Pensacola, FL