Johnny Levi “J.L” Broom
77, Columbia
Johnny Levi “J.L.” Broom, 77, of Columbia, passed from this earth on Friday, Jan. 12, at his home.
He was born on Aug. 3, 1946, to Perry and Evelyn Broom in Columbia. In the 77 years that he lived, he was so many things to so many people. He was a son, brother, hero, husband, dad, father-in-law, papa, uncle, mentor, dog whisperer and a friend.
He had an exceptional long-term memory regaling friends and family with tales about growing up, working on the railroad, being in the army and more. We feel these stories “could have” been exaggerated over the years. He made the stories so much more interesting by mimicking the voices of the characters in the story. All this combined to make the stories so funny that we would laugh until tears streamed down our faces.
He graduated as Mr. Improve from Improve High School in 1964. While in school, basketball was his life. He attended Pearl River Junior College on a full scholarship for basketball. After college he joined the Army and served in Vietnam. While in the Army, he was a military policeman in Company A of the U.S. Army Headquarters Area Command’s 716th Military Police Battalion. He received the Bronze Star medal and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with a Silver Star for his acts of heroism during the Tet Offensive of 1968 in Saigon, Vietnam. After returning home, he married the love of his life and started a family who he loved and cared for immensely. He always sacrificed for them, never complaining, and always put them first before himself. He retired from the Canadian National Railroad at age 60 after 35 years of service.
After retiring, he spent his time mowing, gardening, traveling and never missing an opportunity to be with his family. He made it a priority to attend all his grandchildren’s events, from tee-ball games to graduations.
As a member of Improve Baptist Church for over 50 years, he taught Sunday School, served as a deacon, choir member and an integral part of the Scenes of Christ. He loved his church and church family extraordinarily.
Above all this, he loved his Lord and Savior. The way he lived his life was his testimony. At church on New Year’s Eve, he stated that when the Lord was ready for him, he was ready to go. Welcome, my good and faithful servant.
