ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — Just days after his death, a community remembers a man who died fighting for the safety of the people he served.
Kenny Johnson, 62, was Rockdale County's soil and water supervisor who collapsed and died. He passed away on Oct. 8 after sounding the alarm about dangerous chemicals at the facility.
Tuesday evening, his close friends and others he touched memorialized his life with a vigil to honor his ongoing fight to protect others.
"You can die at any time. We can't be afraid of it. God be with Kenny. He was a giant slayer," said Josie Dean, an activist in the county and Johnson's friend.
By lighting their candles together, the group showed that there is light in the darkness. They stand together in a fight to keep the spirit of one of their own alive.
"I've known him about 10 years. He was a great guy. I really miss him. My husband and I both. Kenny was a doer. Some people are talkers and others get things done. Kenny was a doer," Cheryl Garcia said.
Like many, she was devastated the day she found out he lost his life after testifying about the harmful chemicals at BioLab.
"Even when he was testifying, it wasn't about him. He wanted to make sure the community was protected," Jonathan Chavez said.
He was there watching Johnson's testimony and said he realized he was having trouble breathing and catching his breath throughout. He didn't know his medical background, and attention would be needed minutes later.
"I was the one doing the rescue breathing when he went down," Chavez said.
After a few cycles, Chavez said he knew Johnson wasn't going to make it.
"I was even trying to talk to him in his ear, saying, 'Come on, Kenny! Come on! Come back to us,'" Chavez said.
But Johnson wouldn't make it. Since then, the community he's long supported decided they won't let his outcry die.
"Isn't it ironic how he testified? He didn't die until he got everything he need to get out. They should've shut it down a long time ago, but they like BioLab and it's money more than they like us," Dean said.
Johnson's body is now being returned to his family after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced it would not be conducting an autopsy on Tuesday. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead. Given the circumstances, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said the GBI would handle the case.