On May 22, 2025, at 2:20 in the afternoon, Johnnie René Sharp (Hancock) passed away at a Panama City hospital after complications arose from a surgical procedure that was performed three days earlier.
Johnnie was 64 and was born to John Wesley Hancock and Mary Jane Sowell in Graceville, FL on January 3, 1961. She grew up in Chipley but lived in Panama City for more than 40 years before moving back to Chipley about 12 years ago. Johnnie René was her legal name, but most people knew her by René or Nae, Nae-Nae, Aunt Nae, JR, Johnnie Rae or FROG! René was a daughter, a sister, a niece, a mother, a Nanny, an aunt, a cousin, and a friend to many. She was a bleach blonde feisty character but had a heart of gold. She always believed in second chances and lived by that every day. She enjoyed the simple things in life, like sitting on the porch listening to the radio or yelling at a neighbor to come get them a plate of fried fish or a fried chicken supper. She loved to cook, and she enjoyed company. She took advantage of local town events like the watermelon Festival and possum day and was always fascinated with the Chipley Historic Train Station. She loved music. You could always find her with her windows down and her radio up. René loved watching football, baseball, Nascar and wrestling but sometimes just sitting around watching Forensic Files, eating ice cream and lemon cookies was her idea of a good time.
After 10 years of being a stay-at-home mom, she set out in the work field where she worked many jobs that were physically demanding. From working in a dumpling factory to housekeeping, from there to bartending, and then tying steel on the Lynn Haven Bridge, and even working as a concrete finisher on the construction of Dean Bozeman School in Southport. She built brake calipers at Eastern Auto Parts in Lynn Haven, painted, roofed, set power poles and helped frame houses. She really had done a little bit of everything when it came to work. Working as hard, if not harder than the man working beside her. She left this world loving her family, and loving life.
She was the last survivor of her immediate family but now joins them all in heaven to rest in the arms of our heavenly father. She is preceded in death by her father John Wesley Hancock, her mother Mary Jane Sowell (Searcy), two sisters, Debra Diane Plante, and Mary JoAnn Hancock and one brother, Jimmy Wesley Hancock.
She leaves behind: Two Daughters: Tonya René Phillips and husband Robert, and Shawndra JoAnn Holley and husband Lyman, four grandchildren: Alexsis Brianna Bui and husband Johnny, Aaron Wesley Dale Phillips, Lacy Rose Heisler and husband Jesse, and Kaylee Drew Holley, five great grandchildren: Noah Van Bui, Dalson Scott Heisler, Kade Michael Heisler, James Dean Wright, and Freyja Jane Phillips. Also a very special Aunt and Uncle, Brenda and Willie Foxworth, one sister-in-law: Sonja Hancock, her best friend, Ramona Coatney. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Tracy Kyser and wife Jodi, Kali René Carr, Jason Hancock and wife Christine, April Sjoken and husband Alan, and many cousins, great nieces, and nephews.
There will be a Celebration of Life gathering in honor of Johnnie René at her daughter Tonya Phillips residence on Saturday, May 31st at 4:30-6:30. Please contact Tonya on Facebook for directions.
