- Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (5)

FORM 5

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
[ ] Form 3 Holdings Reported
[ ] Form 4 Transactions Reported

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* JOHNS JOHN D	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP [PL]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __ X __ Director _____ 10% Owner __ X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO,President
(Last) (First) (Middle) 2801 HIGHWAY 280, SOUTH	3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (MM/DD/YYYY) 12/31/2011
(Street) BIRMINGHAM, AL 35223 (City) (State) (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _ X _ Form Filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	11/30/2011		G	28070.0000	D	$ 0	16523.0000	D
Common Stock	11/30/2011		G	28070.0000	A	$ 0	28070.0000	I	Grantor retained annuity ⁽¹⁾
Common Stock							18296.9220	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock							10.0000	I	By daughter
Common Stock							2600.0000	I	By Wife
Common Stock							400.0000	I	By wife as co-trustee of Trust
Common Stock							600.0000	I	By wife as custodian for Daughter
Common Stock							600.0000	I	by wife as custodian for son
Common Stock							331262.8290	I	Deferred Compensation

*Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)	5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Restricted Stock Units							2/26/2013	2/26/2014	Common Stock	107252.0000		107252.0000	D
Restricted Stock Units							2/28/2014	2/28/2015	Common Stock	42900.0000		42900.0000	D
Restricted Stock Units							3/4/2012	3/4/2013	Common Stock	156550.0000		156550.0000	D
SAR	$ 18.36						2/26/2011	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR	$ 18.36						2/26/2012	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR	$ 18.36						2/26/2013	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR	$ 38.59						2/28/2009	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR	$ 38.59						2/28/2010	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR	$ 38.59						2/28/2011	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR	$ 38.59						2/29/2012	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR ⁽³⁾	$ 48.6						3/3/2007	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR ⁽³⁾	$ 48.6						3/3/2008	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR	$ 48.6						3/3/2009	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR	$ 48.6						3/3/2010	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR	$ 41.05						3/4/2006	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR	$ 32						3/4/2007	3/4/2012	Common Stock	300000.0000		300000.0000	D
SAR	$ 41.05						3/4/2007	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR	$ 41.05						3/4/2008	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR	$ 41.05						3/4/2009	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR	$ 3.5						3/4/2010	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83334.0000		83334.0000	D
SAR	$ 3.5						3/4/2011	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83333.0000		83333.0000	D
SAR	$ 3.5						3/4/2012	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83333.0000		83333.0000	D
SAR	$ 43.46						3/5/2008	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR	$ 43.46						3/5/2009	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR	$ 43.46						3/5/2010	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR	$ 43.46						3/5/2011	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	On November 30, 2011, the reporting person contributed 28,070 shares of Protective Life Corporation stock to a grantor retained annuity trust.
( 2)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of PLC common stock.
( 3)	Previously reported Stock Appreciation Right (SAR).

Remarks:
poajohns.txt

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
JOHNS JOHN D 2801 HIGHWAY 280, SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35223	X		CEO,President

Signatures
by Alfred F. Delchamps, III, Attorney-in-Fact for John D. Johns		2/7/2012
^** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

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*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
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