Funeral services for Vaughan Johnson set for Saturday in North Carolina

Funeral services are set for former New Orleans Saints great Vaughan Johnson.

The member of the vaunted Dome Patrol linebacker corps, voted best in NFL history by NFL Network, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC after battling kidney and lung issues for many months.

Visitation is set for Friday, Dec. 20 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Glad Tidings Church in Morehead City, NC.

A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Glad Tidings Church with Pastor Jim Marriner officiating. Following the service, burial will take place at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.

Electronic condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.org. Arrangements are being made by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beauford, NC.

Johnson is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Shirley Ardoin Johnson.

“Thank you to all of those who have poured out their hearts and heartfelt feelings about Vaughan,” said Shirley Johnson. “He touched a lot of lives and was a special person. As much as those associated with the Saints and with Louisiana loved him, he loved them equally and loved the New Orleans area.”