Raymond Thomas Johnson, Jr.

Raymond Thomas Johnson, Jr. departed this life on January 9, 2024. Born on January 12, 1954, to the late Raymond T. Johnson Sr., and Adele Mickens Johnson, he was the first child of their union.

Ray accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Providence Baptist Church. He received his formal education at John M. Gandy School and graduated from Patrick Henry High School.  After graduation, he started a family, worked hard, and eventually retired from Dominion VA Power with 30 years of service.

Ray had many talents. Gifted with being able to work with his hands, Ray could fix almost anything. He was often the go-to person for family and friends who needed a hand. 

During his teenage years, it wasn’t uncommon for him to start early in the morning installing motors and transmissions so he could drag race down Jamestown Road that night. Known as a jack of all trades, he was always the first line of defense when support was needed; from remodeling homes to working on several cars at once, he never shied away from a challenge. 

In the 1980s, he began working at VEPCO, now known as Dominion Energy. Starting at the bottom he took advantage of every opportunity to advance himself, including becoming one of the first group of black men to pass the underground lineman exam. He retired as a supervisor and spoke highly of his responsibility and experiences working alongside his colleagues. During this time, he also gained a passion for dump trucks. He was an owner-operator for many years and passed down his knowledge and repair techniques to his sons, friends, and many others. 

Ray enjoyed cooking, a trait passed down from his mother. He would often steam up the kitchen, or perform miracles on a grill, never sharing all of his secret ingredients. His passion for cooking led him to open a diner with his sons called the “Jamestown Cafe” where they specialized in soul food dishes, and his famous “Jamestown Burger.” 

Ray loved sports, especially softball, and football. In his young adult years, Ray known by his friends as “Artie Dean,” played softball for the “UpSetters” as a first baseman.  On the weekends, he could be found in a dugout anywhere from Hanover to Richmond. He proudly wore green and yellow as a Green Bay Packers fan, watching them every Sunday, challenging anyone who did not agree with Vince Lombardi being the greatest coach of all time. He also enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in sports, attending games, and cheering them on from the stands.

Ray’s gift of gab, spontaneity with words, storytelling, and outrageous laugh, kept everyone in stitches. He would engage in stories and laughter among his family and friends and could make light of any situation. Whether it was sitting at the kitchen table, relaxing at his favorite fishing hole, or while he was under the hood of a car, Ray had a story to tell, leaving many with lasting memories and reminders of how much he enjoyed lighting up a room with his unique charisma.

Ray was loved dearly by so many and will be missed tremendously. In addition to his parents and grandparents, he was preceded in death by his brother Ronald Trent. 

Ray will be lovingly remembered by his sons Raymond III (Tiara) and Jason  (Monique); his stepsons Ronnie and Shawn; his grandchildren, Rayden, Jayce, Jason Jr., Leah, Kevin, Aniyah, Iyani, Carmelo, Kimani, Shawn Jr.; his brother Thomas Trent; sisters Donna Johnson, Delle Stallings (Charles), and Daphane Johnson; his aunt Sarah Anderson (Douglas), a host of cousins, friends, and so many others that he called family.