John Russell "Johnny" Ham

John Russell “Johnny” Ham passed away unexpectedly on January 10 at the age of 69.

John was born on December 7, 1956, in Dalton, Georgia, into a loving family. He was the son of Leon Murrill Ham III and Louise Ham. John is survived by his two sons, Charlie and Luke, and his brother, Skip, and Skip’s wife, Leigh.

John was an amazing father, and his life was devoted to his children, whom he loved dearly. He raised them with unconditional love and taught them many life lessons that they will hold close to their hearts.

He attended the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a marketing degree from the Terry College of Business, and then began a career in the flooring industry. John was a very well-known and much-loved football and baseball coach at Northside Youth Organization and Buckhead Baseball in Atlanta. He taught kids far more than the skills of the game. He taught them to be fair, resilient, hardworking, and—most of all—to have fun.

John had more friends than can be counted. He was magnetic, and people loved being around him. Even through his battle with cancer, he remained positive and maintained an amazing outlook on life.

John was a man of faith. He trusted in the Lord and in His promises.

Besides coaching and watching sports, John was an avid golfer and spent as much time as he could on the golf course. Finally, at age 68, John got his first hole-in-one at The Farm on hole number 5. He knew how to love deeply and how to enjoy life.

A service to celebrate John’s life will be held at ChristChurch Presbyterian in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday, January 16, 2026, at noon. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org) or the Northside Youth Organization (nyosports.com).

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7