R. A. Johnson

R. A. Johnson God, who does all things right, returned unto Himself, the Reverend Dr. R. A. Johnson, 92, who entered into eternal rest on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born on June 26, 1921, in Esmont, Virginia, the third of nine surviving children of the late Harry L. and Gladys Hudson Johnson. He recognized his parents for being his first teachers and role models for living a Christ-like life. It was at the age of 14 that he formally offered his life to the ministry. Dr. Johnson received his high school diploma from Albemarle County public schools. With passion and purpose, one suitcase, ninety dollars, and a 1941, Plymouth, he left the community of his birth to matriculate at Virginia University of Lynchburg (formerly known as Virginia Seminary and College), from which he received his B. A., B. TH. and some years later an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. He credits his university for revolutionizing his thinking about his role in society and the purpose of religion through inimitable instruction, extensive research and reading, and rigorous discourse. He has been the Shepherd to various congregations over the years in Albemarle County. He pastored for 50 years at the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cismont, retiring in 2005, as Pastor Emeritus. Additionally, he led congregations at South Garden, Oak Hill, Mount Amos, Mount Zion in Advance Mills, as well as Mount Lebanon and the Union Baptist Church of Waynesboro, Virginia. Dr. Johnson was the Pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, for 47 years, which he organized and founded in 1965. He retired on June 24, 2012, and assumed Pastor Emeritus status there as well. While pastoring in the Waynesboro community, there was time for more than work as Dr. Johnson met and married the mother of his children, Mrs. Geneva Johnson, who would be his helpmate and first lady for 36 years. Dr. Johnson's spiritual walk is also complemented by his business acumen, as he owned and operated a house cleaning service (later sold to a brother and which still exists today as Spotless House Cleaning), a laundry, and organized and operated with his brothers Jake and Lindsay, Johnson Brother's Funeral Home, Inc. in 1953, for 40 years. Dr. Johnson was a member of the Virginia Baptist State Convention, a lifetime member of the NAACP, the Piedmont District Baptist Association, and advised both the Association and its Ladies Auxiliary. He was also an active member of the Ministers and Deacons Union, Piedmont Sunday School Convention, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Ministerial Conference. The list of awards Dr. Johnson received during his 77 years in the ministry is extensive and includes the Virginia Baptist State Convention's 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Charlottesville NAACP African American Coalition of Community Organizers 2007 Humanitarian Award; Blakey Butler Carey 2005 Pillar of Faith Award; the African American Heritage in Virginia Program's 2004 Courage and Contribution to Social Justice Award, and was the 2003 recipient of our city's coveted Martin Luther King Jr. Community Award. Dr. Johnson's civil rights advocacy began as a young man. He stayed the course for social justice and was the first African American to serve on the Ministers' Conference in Waynesboro and to broadcast weekly devotions on radio station WAYB. He persevered and opened the doors of the public library, the city's drive-in movie and the Wayne Theatre. Known for "speaking truth to power," Dr. Johnson enlisted corporate support from the Waynesboro DuPont plant to build a playground for children of color as they were denied access to those in the city. His constitutional beliefs of inalienable rights compelled him to lead families from the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cismont, to advance the process of integration in two Albemarle County schools, Stone Robinson Elementary and Albemarle High School. Dr. Johnson joined many other members of the community and their actions led to the integration of our city. He could be seen speaking, rallying to integrate the Paramount, Jefferson, University and Drive-In theaters, marching, meeting, mobilizing, sitting in at the counters of Woolworth Inc., the Waffle Shop, Howard Johnson's and the infamous Buddy's Restaurant, standing in hotel lobbies, and seated across the desk from business owners or policy and decision makers in order to cause change bettering the lives of the residents of our city and county. Many will miss his indelible imprint on the religious, civic and judicial communities. Though he has transitioned, his greatest wish would be for us all to stand on his shoulders and accomplish greater acts to better the lives of mankind. To cherish his legacy, Dr. Johnson leaves his wife, Phyllis Johnson; a daughter, Loran J. Wharton; and granddaughter, Jade N. Wharton, all of Charlottesville; two sisters, Frances J. Raines of New Jersey, and Ida J. Lewis of Charlottesville; and one brother, Joseph Johnson also of Charlottesville; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; a cherished pet, Argos; and many loved ones. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, the Reverend Justin LaRue Johnson; three brothers, Charles Coates Johnson, Harry Lindsay Johnson and the Reverend William Samuel Johnson, all of Charlottesville, Virginia; and two sisters, Bertha Johnson Price and Ada Johnson Jordan, both of Charlottesville, Virginia. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2013, at the Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church, 105 Lankford Avenue, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Alvin Edwards will be officiating and Dr. Walter Johnson will deliver the eulogy. Interment and repast will follow at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cismont, Virginia. The family welcomes you to a community celebration with reflections and viewing at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 211 Albemarle Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2013. J. F. Bell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.jfbellfuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.