Friends remember Windsor graduate who died in San Bernardino attack

In the Windsor Academy gym where he played basketball, friends of Shannon Johnson gathered Saturday to remember the man who died saving the life of a co-worker during a terrorist attack.

The memorial service was held at the same time as Johnson's funeral in Jesup. He was buried there next to his father, who died in 1978 trying to save a co-worker in an industrial accident.

Johnson, 45, died Dec. 2 when a husband and wife terrorist team attacked Johnson's workplace in San Bernardino, California. One of his co-workers, a mother of three, credited him with saving her life by shielding her from the bullets.

Johnson was a star athlete at Windsor Academy, where he graduated in 1988.

About 30 people attended the memorial service held at Windsor. One of the speakers was Ken Smith Sr., whose son, Ken Smith Jr., was Johnson's best friend in high school.

Although Johnson weighed only about 185 pounds in high school, Smith said Johnson "worked his rear-end off" to get to where he was able to bench press over 400 pounds.

"Through this ordeal people have said he was an angel, but I say he is an angel because he's got his wings today," Smith said.

Phyllis Dorn, who was an English teacher at Windsor when Johnson attended, remembered him as a fun-loving person.

"I just have fond memories of Shannon and Ken and the other guys in his class," she said. "They would push the limits with us, but they were so kind to us and good to us. You couldn't help but love them."

The Rev. Joe McDaniel, who delivered the eulogy, talked about the use of the word "hero" to refer to athletes and other successful people.

"We are here today to celebrate the life of a genuine, up close, sure enough American hero named Shannon Johnson," he said.

This story was originally published December 12, 2015 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Friends remember Windsor graduate who died in San Bernardino attack ."