Soul of 78: Johnny Sudberry

Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County 

Words by Nick Norris | Image by Al Blanton

Hospitality has always been a staple of the South. The idea of loving your neighbor and offering a helping hand to family, friends, or even strangers is a concept many Southerners are raised to internalize. Perhaps no one in Walker County embodies this notion quite like Johnny Sudberry. 

For most of his life, Johnny has dedicated his career to helping others. From his time in ministry to serving as the director for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County, Johnny has made an impact on countless lives over the last few decades. However, the path to becoming the man he is today started with a dire battle against addiction and finding inner peace.

“I was a substance abuser when I was a teenager and into my young adulthood,” Johnny explains. “So, I had lots of struggles because of my own poor choices. Eventually, through the grace of God, I overcame that, and I realized I wanted to help people facing similar obstacles. I began working with people with substance abuse problems, and I realized many young people in those scenarios are just in need of guidance. There’s an intrinsic reward in helping others.” 

For 25 years, Johnny worked with the local mental health center, helping any way he could. He began directing a substance abuse treatment program and later served as a coordinator for a program serving struggling children and adolescents.

 “I have always had a heart for kids,” Johnny says. “Growing up today is very different even from when I grew up. Kids now have a lot of struggles that those in previous generations did not have to face. It can be hard being a child today, especially if they do not have a strong support system.” 

This passion for kids led John to become the director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County—a non-profit serving children of abuse and neglect—three years ago. The WCCAC works with multiple organizations and agencies to make the investigative process into each case less stressful and traumatic for victims. The organization also allows medical and mental health services to be more quickly and effectively coordinated and gathers necessary information for each case. 

“The main thing we do is give the child a voice,” Johnny says. “A lot of the time, we are the first people they share their story with. We try to make sure the victims are as comfortable as possible, because they are usually reliving the most traumatic experiences of their lives. We just want to help these kids and these families get back on their feet, and to give them a chance.”

Through the WCCAC, Johnny is giving countless families that chance and allowing that internalized notion of loving one’s neighbor to shine brightly. 78