Johnny Mack Coulson

Johnny Mack Coulson, 76, also known as Johnny Moonshine, died on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Novant NHRMC, Wilmington, NC.

      He was born on May 15, 1947, in Galax, VA, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains to Earnest and Alma Coulson, their #7 son and #9 child of 10.

     Johnny excelled in school with auto mechanics and had a passion for fast cars especially when his family moved to Martinsville, VA, home of the NASCAR Speedway. In the 1960s, he also ran moonshine through those country roads for Junior Johnson’s Dad’s still. Now you can easily get moonshine in your local ABC store.

     Johnny served as a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving his country from 1969 to 1971 in Neckarsulm, Germany, with a specialty in Pershing missiles at the age of 22. He was a member of the Compass Pointe Veterans Club.

     Opportunities for work and earning a living in the South were thin so he followed his older brothers to NJ where he worked in manufacturing plants until joining his brother’s business, Wayne’s American of Red Bank, NJ. The Coulson’s celebrated the Christmas holidays with Yeller Birds for their customers and were well-respected mechanics and people connectors. Johnny & Wayne worked together until Johnny left to establish Rumson Gulf in Rumson, NJ, where his special customers and some celebrities enjoyed excellent service and “Straight at 8” coffee and “Live at 5” Budweiser in the back room. After 8 years, Wayne & Johnny rejoined forces with Coulson Brothers Automotive on Central Avenue, Red Bank, NJ, where their customers followed them like the Pied Piper. When Wayne retired, Johnny purchased the Getty Station near Ft. Monmouth in Eatontown. He also was a golf course maintenance contractor with the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth who trained him well in golf course equipment.

     Johnny and his wife Donna relocated to Leland, NC in 2013 and bought land and built their home at Compass Pointe where Johnny again did golf course maintenance when their golf course opened.  He also played tournament golf with his CP buds and enjoyed life at the Carolina Coast. Johnny volunteered as an Usher and Hospitality Host at both Thalian Hall for 10 years and Wilson Center for 8 years.

      Johnny is survived by his wife of 34 years, Donna C. Coulson, his brother Billy Coulson (Ruthie) of Fort Wayne, IN, his sons David Coulson (Hilda) of Eden, NC; Jon Coulson (Jessica) of Bartlett, TN, daughter in law Michelle Coulson Davis (Richard) of Reidsville, NC; grandsons Jonathan Coulson, Ridgeway, VA; Jacob Coulson, Bartlett, TN and granddaughter Gracie Coulson Carter (Bryson) of Dry Fork, VA and great grandson Lucas Levi Coulson of Roanoke, VA.  Johnny will miss the debut of great granddaughter Oaklyn Grace Carter in November. Johnny was predeceased by his three sisters: Bobbie Jewell Coulson (1934), Peggy Coulson Kent (2022) and Mary Lou Coulson (2016) and his five brothers: George Coulson (1983), James Connie (JC) Coulson (1982), Rixie Coulson (2018), Ernest Wayne Coulson (2022), and Jimmy Coulson (2016).

 I recommended people donate to the First Tee which works with kids who want to learn to play golf

www.firsttee.org.  You pick your geographical area, and the donation goes there.