Johnny Thomas Lyons Jr., 60, of Statesville, N.C., died Friday, January 1, 2021, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 24, 1060, in Muscogee County, Ga., to Johnny T. Lyons Sr. and Barbara Jean McClaskey Lyons.

John had many interests in life, and he loved to work. He had worked as a truck driver, had pastored several churches including Morningside Baptist in Lincolnton, Ga., Tryon Baptist in Tryon, Ga., and Calvary Baptist in Mocksville, N.C. He also owned and operated Sonrise Café from 2005 to 2013.

John was also a jack-of-all-trades and could fix most anything. John was always a jokester. He liked to cook and go out to eat. He enjoyed Christian music, was quite a people person, and he never met a stranger. More than anything, he loved his family.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 41 years, Donna Elliott Lyons; two sons, Johnny Thomas Lyons III (Kristin) and Joshua Thomas Lyons Sr. (Charlena); two daughters, Crystal Renea Barnes (Eric) and Cassandra Lyons Chege; 15 grandchildren, Katelyn Lyons, Kelsey Lyons, Savannah Lyons, Olivia Lyons, Aubrey Lyons, Elizabeth Davis, Rebecca Davis, Samuel Davis, Hannah Davis, Ethan Barnes, Tucker Barnes, Camila Chege, Nicolas Chege, Natalia Lyons, and Joshua Lyons Jr.; his father, Johnny T. Lyons Sr. (Ellie); his mother, Barbara Jean Lyons; two sisters, Deborah Jean Lyons and Theresa Lyons Buchanan (Rock Buchanan); two half-sisters, April Boulware (Chris) and Carra Lyons; and his special fur baby, Pumpkin.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, January 4, 2021, at 6 p.m. at the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Chris Thompson officiating. The service will be live streamed beginning promptly at 6 p.m. The family will visit with friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to help the family with funeral costs at Nicholson Funeral Home, 135 E. Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677 or by calling 704-872-5287 to make a donation with a credit or debit card by phone.

Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.