Lee McKay Johnson

Lee McKay Johnson passed away in his home in Black Mountain, NC, on Wednesday April 3, 2024. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his two children, Morgan Woolverton and Lilah Johnson, his daughter-in-law, Laura Shoemaker, and his grandchildren, Anna and Beau Woolverton, along with his brother, Irving Johnson and sister-in-law, Cheryl Johnson. He is predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Alice Johnson and will be missed by Alice's siblings, Neal Owens, Laura Lewis, and Lucile Burleson, along with their partners and children. Lee was also close with his cousin, Melanie McKay, with whom he shared academic conversations and beloved memories of Millbrook, their grandmother's home in Mississippi.
Lee was a true Renaissance man, with a passion for art, architecture, literature and music. He loved finding the connections between these disciplines and helping his students and others to see the beauty in them, also. He taught literature for over 30 years, graduating from Stanford in 1970 and, notably, teaching at Guilford College from 1980 - 2000. He loved travel and felt it was a critical part of understanding the world. To this end, he was the director of the overseas program at Guilford College with Miriam Collins from 1992 to 1998, developing and enhancing programs in England, France, Italy, and Ghana. He led groups of students abroad in London, England and Brunnenburg, Italy, in 1982, 1988, and 1992. His study of music was both deep and wide, spanning from New Orleans Jazz and Blues to music from Mali and Ghana, Western classical music, and Indian classical music.
His love of architecture and design could be seen in the two adobe houses he designed and built with his wife, Alice Johnson, in New Mexico, and their final design-- a classic New Orleans style home in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This home is a legacy that he left to his children and grandchildren. He also pursued challenging writing projects, culminating with his book in 2006 about Henry James, "Finding the Figure in the Carpet: Vision and Silence in the Work of Henry James," that brought together his years of academic study and his interdisciplinary approach. The book was 30 years in the making, and a labor of love. His last work in 2021 was a collection of his tantric paintings, entitled, "Tantra Paintings." These paintings are a study of the Tantric creation myth that is based on the emergence of the Bindu from the void.
His sharp mind and wit will be missed by many. It was said that you could never have a boring conversation with Lee. He will be deeply missed by his extended family, who learned so much about the world, adventure, and bravery through Lee's example.
In lieu of flowers, the Johnson family would love for you to donate to one of the following organizations: Mercy Ships or St. Jude's Hospital.