RALEIGH — James Archer Johnson was welcomed into heaven having been surrounded by his family on August 6, 2012. Jim was born January 3, 1926 in Henderson, NC, the third of four children born to Susie Ligon Johnson and Robert Smith Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Bess Johnson St. Clair and Mary Ann Johnson Sutherland.
Upon his graduation from Henderson High School, Jim attended NC State University, the University of Miami, and he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in electrical engineering as part of the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program. He served as an executive officer on a Navy mine-sweeper and was on his way to Pearl Harbor when World War II ended. After completing his military service, he began his career with Southern Railway where he was employed mostly in Washington, DC and Roanoke,Virginia until his retirement from the Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1986. On August 12, 1956, he married Janice Murchison Johnson, to whom he was wholly devoted until his passing.
Jim is survived by his wife, Janice, one brother Robert Ligon Johnson and wife, Pauline, of Henderson, NC; son James (Jimmy) Archer Johnson, Jr. and wife Donna of Washington, NC; daughter Elizabeth (Beth) Johnson Beasley and husband, Mark, of Raleigh; son Robert (Bobby) Murchison Johnson and wife, Susan, of Charlotte, NC; and eight grandchildren Hunter Claire Johnson, Brinkley Alexandra Johnson, and James Archer Johnson, III, of Washington, NC; Cameron Lanier Johnson and Emily Ruth Johnson of Charlotte, NC; and Johnson King Beasley, Ann Archer Beasley, and William Murchison Beasley of Raleigh. He loved spending time with his extended family, which includes a number of nieces and nephews.
Jim will be remembered for his incredibly loyal devotion to his family and church, for his constant smile and steadfast determination, and his kind and gentle spirit. He will leave a legacy of selfless generosity for his family and generations to come.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Rosewood at The Cypress of Raleigh who graciously provided loving care and comfort to Jim for the past year.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, August 9, 2012, at Christ Baptist Church, 400 Newton Road, Raleigh, NC 27615, with a reception to follow at The Cypress of Raleigh, 8801 Cypress Lakes Drive, Raleigh, 27615.
Memorial contributions can be made to Christ Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC.
Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.