Wilburt Johnson was born on June 26, 1921 in the small Atkinson County community of Kirkland, Georgia. By 1932, at the young age of 11, Johnson had literally followed his father into the woods and demanded to begin chipping boxes alongside his old man. He caught on quickly, and he labored only in the forest industries for the remainder of his working life. In turpentine, he worked under a man for a number of years in Middleton, Georgia before working for Era and Gillis Carter in Willacoochee. Outside of turpentine, Johnson long-logged and worked in the pulpwood industry for several years.

He only quit the turpentine business when it became necessary for him to do so. The industry crossed the ocean and he crossed into old age. He spends most of his days now with his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Warm weather finds him most days in a rocking chair in his carport in Willacoochee, and he is remembered by all in the area for his memorable holler in the woods - “Can I Go,” he would yell.