Johnny Cecil Malone

Johnny Cecil Malone, age 80, former managing editor of The Jackson Sun, passed away on July 22, 2022, in Jackson, TN. Johnny was born on April 10, 1942, in Selmer, TN, son of Cecil G. Malone, a postal Clerk, and Nelda Weaver Malone, a grammar schoolteacher. He was reared in the Sweet Lips Community of Chester County. He attended Henderson Elementary School and graduated from Chester County High School in 1960 as co-valedictorian. He was an honors graduate of Freed-Hardeman in 1962. Johnny transferred to the University of Missouri School of Journalism at Columbia, graduating in 1964 as an outstanding male graduate. While in high school he wrote for the Chester County Independent. At Missouri he held various writing, teaching, and copy-editing positions in connection with the Columbia Missourian, a community newspaper published by the University of Missouri. Johnny joined The Jackson Sun upon graduating from college. He worked at The Sun until retiring in 1997, serving as a reporter, state editor, copydesk chief, book editor, managing editor, and, finally, as news editor. Johnny was highly regarded for his mentoring of newsroom colleagues and took pride in their journalistic accomplishments. He was a member of the Tennessee National Guard, reaching the rank of sergeant in the 230th Signal Battalion before completing his service in 1971. Johnny married Judy Irene Mainord on April 17, 1972, and they reared two sons, Johnny Jr. and William Jason. They were married almost 49 years before her death February 2, 2020. They maintained homes in Jackson and at the ancestral family farm at Sweet Lips in Chester County. Johnny was a longtime book collector, and after retiring from The Sun he worked for a time for Old Volume Bookstore owned by Lloyd Russell. Afterward, he and his wife operated an internet bookstore for more than 25 years. Besides his sons, Johnny leaves his brother, Danny and his wife Mary of Collierville; a granddaughter, Alexus Victoria Malone; two nieces, Cyndi Malone of Gallatin, TN, and Melanie Allgyer of Collierville, TN. A short, simple graveside service will be held at 10 am Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at East Laurel Baptist Church Cemetery in the Harts Bridge Community of Madison County. Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home is in charge of services. The family request any memorials be given to Jackson-Madison County Library, Chester County Library, to your church, or any worthy charity.