OBITUARY: Carroll “Rollo” Johnson III

Carroll “Rollo” Johnson III, passed away March 6. He was born on Dec. 10, 1952, in Nashville, and grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee.

He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy, where he received a special one-time award – “To Rollo for a Job Well Done.” He attended the University of Tennessee, where he was a proud manager for the football team. He continued to dress out and remained on the sidelines for many years after he left, never losing his passion for the Vols.

Rol returned to Gallatin to help run Planters Tobacco Warehouse with his brother Laurence and grandfather, Carroll Johnson Sr., founder. Upon his grandfather’s death, he and his brother managed the business until the late 1990s. He was as passionate about skiing as he was about UT football and he moved to Aspen, Colorado to sell real estate. Later, he returned to Gallatin to work for Keller Williams Realty. During his last years, he moved to St. Simons Island to be near family.

Rollo was preceded in death by his father, Carroll Johnson Jr.; his mother, Fran Johnson Blackshear; his brother, Laurence Hurley Johnson; and his grandparents, Carroll and Mary Jane Johnson, all of Gallatin; as well as his maternal grandparents, Fannie and Laurence Hurley of Warren, Arkansas.

He is survived by his sister, Jill McGahan; and niece, Hurley Schombert (Branden), all of St. Simons Island; and nephew, Ryan McGahan (Sarah) of Thibodaux, Louisiana;

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Gallatin as well as Crossroads Church of Aspen and attended St. Simons Community Church.

Rollo lived a life of grand adventures and was dearly loved by all who knew him.

He had a quick wit, generous heart and he never met a stranger.

A memorial service will be planned at a later date.

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, March 27, 2026

For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.

This obituary was published by The Brunswick News.

Share on Facebook

Tweet