Jay Dee Johnson Jr.

Jay Dee Johnson Jr.



Jay Dee Johnson Jr. was born on August 17, 1955. Jay Dee transitioned from life to death on Sunday, September 5, 2010, at his home after a brief illness. Before his passing, Jay lived a fulfilling life he attended James S. Lee Elementary School and subsequently graduated from Homer L. Ferguson High School in 1973, both in Newport News, Virginia. From there, Jay enlisted in the United States Air Force and continued to excel in his endeavors. He served in the United States Air Force as a Command and Control System Specialist and then in the NCOIC Records Section at the Radena Air Base in Japan. Jay concluded his military career with an honorable discharge in 1977 as a Sergeant.

After receiving his honorable discharge Jay took up life as a civilian with a humanitarian flare, working in his community as a Wrap Around Counselor at Tidewater Regional. In the midst of his work, Jay found time in 1992 to be sent on a "blind date." This blind date would eventually lead to a budding relationship with a then Debra Evans, and would consequently lead to a marriage of more than 18 years. Although Jay spent the majority of his life in the Tidewater area, in 2003 it was God's will to relocate him to Louisa County.

After coming to Louisa, Jay began to work at Tridim Filter Corp until illness prevented him from continuing. It was also during this time that God began to create a new work in him that would lead to a kind of work that was far beyond and further-reaching than anything else Jay had done previously. God was calling Mr. Jay Dee Johnson to salvation. Jay willingly embraced God's call and was baptized on October 12, 2008, at Rising Sun Baptist Church in Mineral, Virginia.

He leaves behind to mourn him, his loving wife and helper, Debra Johnson of Louisa, Virginia; a daughter, Tamara Clarke; his mother, Senora Johnson of Newport News, Virginia; five sisters, Debra Johnson of Newport News, Virginia, Paulette Coward of Columbus, Georgia, Beverly Bowling of Bowie, Maryland, Queenie Johnson of Bowie, Maryland, and Rita Johnson of Washington, D.C.; three maternal uncles, Charlie Robinson and his wife, Gloria, of Hampton, Virginia, Wesley Robinson and his wife, Kim, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Purcell Robinson of Hampton, Virginia; one paternal uncle, Leroy Johnson and his wife, Gladys, of Concord, North Carolina; a mother-in-law, Joycie V. Sims of Gordonsville, Virginia; two brothers-in-law, Clarence Sims and his wife, Lisa, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Michael Spotswood and his wife, Victoria, of Gordonsville, Virginia; four sisters-in-law, Cassandra Coxson of Orange, Virginia, Robin Sims of Charlottesville, Virginia, Patricia Dade of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Tracy Sims of Gordonsville, Virginia; one grandchild, McKinze Crosby; and a host of cousins. His special friends include Bobby Dudley, Melvin Davis and Keith Grant.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jay D. Johnson Sr.; one son, Victor Carter Jr.; and father-in-law, Clarence Sims.

Funeral services will be held 12 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2010, at Rising Sun Baptist Church, 6829 Fredericks Hall Road, Mineral, VA 23117, with the Reverend Frederick Sales officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the Rock Hall Cemetery in Madison, Virginia.

Thomasson Watson Funeral Service Inc. is handling the arrangements.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.ddwatsonmortician.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.