Mark E. Johnson

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Mark E. Johnson passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Sherrie; his siblings Tim, Tashina, and Debbie; his children Paul (Michelle) Johnson, Mark (Karen) Johnson, Christina (Patrick) Goshorn, and Angela (Stephen) Scoggins; and his grandchildren Abby, Liam, Mason, Owyn, Violet, Parker, Shepherd, and Evie.

Mark was born in Denver, Colorado, on April 5, 1958. He attended Hotchkiss High School and graduated from Bob Jones University with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. Throughout his life, he served as a pastor, teacher, woodworker, and technician.

He was much loved for his genuine care and interest towards everyone he met. He saw each person as unique, interesting, and valuable regardless of their background. He could listen patiently for hours, helping them feel supported and hopeful.

He enjoyed spaghetti and spaghetti westerns, classical music, peanut butter cups, sausage biscuits, and hazelnut coffee. He could overwhelm himself with laughter at The Far Side comics, “demotivational posters,” and other off-beat comedy. He didn’t care for anything fast-paced, but he was naturally good at strategy games and trivia, drawing on his deep knowledge of history and nature. He loved the mountains and instinctively knew which way was North, East, South, or West, from which he was sure to pick the slowest, most scenic route. He would spend months navigating a scripture passage, dissecting the Greek text, and recording insights that surfaced in many future lessons and conversations.

Mark was persistently hopeful, especially when it came to people. He valued people over plans or preconceptions. He would drop anything to spend time with a loved one, friend, or anyone in need. His accepting, attentive, and extemporaneous approach made him an especially effective teacher and mentor to hundreds of people over his lifetime. He engaged with questions, adapted, and learned alongside them.

No one felt judged around Mark, but you couldn’t be with him long before he’d tell you about his own failings. He loved nothing more than to share how God overwhelmed and changed him on June 21, 2000, amidst a difficult season. He never recovered from the outpouring of God’s mercy and love towards him, as evidenced by the deep emotion and joyful tears that sprang up whenever he shared it.

Mark’s family and friends remember him as quick to ask for forgiveness, slow to find fault. He praised even their smallest virtues and accomplishments. He loved nothing more than seeing and talking about God’s love for him, and he reflected it to everyone around him. He was a warm, caring husband, father, and friend who expressed love freely and constantly. In his final days, his last words to his wife, family, and all who came to see him were the phrase he repeated most often during his life: “I love you.”

A visitation is scheduled for 9:30am, and the funeral service at 11am, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Faith Baptist Church, 500 West Lee Road, Taylors, SC 29687. The burial will take place at 1pm at Woodlawn Memorial Park.