His personal story is much more.

‘We lost everything’

Johnny’s own words tell it best.

“I have a strong belief in comforting those who have known loss. My wife and I have experienced our share:

“We lost everything and she lost her ability to walk in the Huntsville tornado of 1989.

“We lost every child we tried to have over the next decade.

“And as I write this we are sitting with her mother, who has recently begun end-of-life care.”

The Sharps aren’t quitters, and true friendships and friendly gestures, even from strangers, help bring healing.

“In each case, we have been blessed to have an abundance of support from our friends and the community,” he said.

Then during the Memorial Day weekend, Johnny saw what had happened in a shocked and heartbroken Auburn community.

Auburn police officer William Buechner was shot and killed on the night of May 19, and two other officers were shot and wounded.