Ernest Edward Johnson

Ernest Edward Johnson, a family man and respected member of his community, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024, at the age of 83, in Lancaster, South Carolina. Born in Elizabethton, Tennessee, on November 14, 1940, to Edgar and Sally Johnson, Ernest's life was a testament to hard work, love, and dedication to his family and the lands he cherished.

Ernest spent his youth in the rolling hills of North Carolina. He raised his children and owned a business in Charlotte N.C. before moving to Lancaster, where he married Cindy, the love of his life. Together, they nurtured a close-knit family that included his beloved children, Janice Johnson, Ernest "Bboy" Johnson, Michael Johnson, and Cathy Woodall. A devoted husband and father, Ernest's legacy continued to grow with 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, who will carry forward his memory with love and admiration. Also mourning Ernest are his brother Billy Johnson of Spartanburg, SC, his sister Joyce Faw of Wilkesboro, NC and his step-brother Ray Anderson, along with a host of adored nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his step-father B.A. Anderson, siblings Howard Johnson, Nancy and Gary Mathis, and Charles Johnson, and cherished grandchildren Ernest Johnson III, Shawn Woodall, as well as step-sons James and Curtis Turner.

A man of tireless energy and great enterprise, Ernest was well-known as the owner of a thriving tree service in Charlotte, NC. His work was instrumental in clearing land for many local roads, and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to a life of cultivating the earth, raising livestock, and growing fish in his pond. He believed in the fruits of the earth and had a special passion for tending his garden, generously sharing his harvest and canned goods with friends and neighbors.

Ernest's love for the outdoors extended to his status as a great hunter of artifacts. He was skilled in recreating tools and arrows, showcasing a connection to the land and history that was both deep and personal. As an excellent hunter and fisherman, Ernest instilled in his family a respect for nature and the importance of self-sufficiency. His exploits and the stories of his adventures became the stuff of family legend, reinforcing his role as a natural-born storyteller.

The words that best describe Ernest are loving, generous, and charismatic—a man who gave freely of himself and left an indelible mark on the hearts of those he encountered. These attributes extended beyond his family to the entire community, who saw in him a man of integrity and kindness.

The life of Ernest Edward Johnson was one rich with experiences and relationships. Each person he met, every piece of land he tended, and every life he touched was better for it. His enduring presence will be felt in the legacy of his family, the beauty of the natural landscapes he helped shape, and the countless memories cherished by those who were fortunate to know him.

As his family, we take solace in the joy and laughter he brought into our lives. His spirit, like the mighty oaks he once cared for, remains a source of strength and comfort. Ernest's life story is one of love, resilience, and the beautiful simplicity of caring for the land and its people.

Today, we honor the memory of Ernest Edward Johnson, a remarkable man whose journey has come to a peaceful conclusion. In each seed sown, in every artifact discovered, and through the laughter of his children and their children, Ernest's legacy will perpetually thrive. He will live on in the wind that rustles the leaves, in the quiet streams he fished, and in every loving gesture he inspired. Ernest's life was vast and full, touching eternity with the love he shared and the life he led. Rest in peace, dear Ernest, until the forests whisper your name again and the rivers carry your spirit onward.