Trenton Daniel Johnson’s photo shows his love for the outdoors which his family noted in the obituary
By Becky Long
Publisher
A young man from Ellijay, Ga. drown in Lake Chatuge on Nov. 18 while duck hunting with his friend, according to a release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Trenton Daniel Johnson, 18, was found by officers and volunteers around 11 a.m. in a remote section of the lake, north of the Georgia state line. The area was inaccessible by automobile so officers, including Sheriff Mark Buchanan, accessed the scene by boat.
Johnson’s hunting partner, Carson Bentley, told officers that the two of them had been duck hunting from their boat when Johnson fell overboard.
After “downing a duck,” Bentley said he was in the process of starting the boat’s motor to go retrieve the duck, but when he looked up, he saw Johnson topple head first from the front of the boat into the water.
“Bentley jumped into the water and tried to get a life jacket on Johnson but was unable to do,” said Buchanan who noted that the water depth was about 10 to 12 feet and the accident occurred about 50 feet from the shoreline. Buchanan and Sgt. Tyler Faggard retrieved Johnson from the water.
Born on Nov. 2, 2005 in Dalton, Ga. to Dusty and Hope Johnson, Trenton was also survived by sisters Sadie Johnson and Brinless Johnson, among several other relatives.
Funeral services were held the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Berhnardt Funeral Home in Ellijay. The Gilmer High School Class of 2024 served as honorary pallbearers.
In his obituary his family described Johnson as “a proud Christian, outdoorsman and big brother to his two sisters.”
He was a member of the Mountaintown Baptist Church, FFA, Gilmer Fishing Club and of the Gilmer High School Class of 2024.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Gilmer Christian Learning Center @183 Bobcat Trail P.O. Box 471 Ellijay, Ga. 30540 in memory of Mr. Trenton Johnson.
“Everyone here at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family who are dealing with the tragic death of such a young man,” said Buchanan.