Elmer Marcus Johnson

1927 - 2026

Elmer Marcus Johnson

June 27, 1927 - February 17, 2026

Raleigh, North Carolina - Elmer Marcus Johnson passed away on February 17, 2026, at Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Elmer was born on June 27, 1927, to Ennis H. and Maud Stallings Johnson. His grandparents were John W. and Ella Highsmith Johnson and J. Alpheus and Adeline Baucom Stallings.

Elmer grew up on a farm west of Clayton, NC, and graduated from Clayton High School in 1944. A few months before the end of World War II he joined the Navy as a hospital corpsman and served until 1947. He earned degrees from Mars Hill College, Wake Forest College, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Public Health.

He was married to Phyllis Hoerr of Peoria, Illinois, for nearly 65 years until Phyllis passed away in 2020. Elmer and Phyllis moved from Peoria to Pittsburgh, PA, in 1957. In 1962 the family moved to St. Louis, MO. Elmer and family returned to Raleigh in 1967.

Elmer's career in public health began with the US Public Health Service and the Peoria City Health Department. For most of his career he provided or directed staff services for citizen committees, boards, councils, and commissions, helping implement their public health decisions through legislation, regulation, and public or private appropriations. In this capacity, he served the Allegheny County (PA) Health and Welfare Association, the St. Louis Health and Welfare Council, The Hospital Planning Commission of Metropolitan St. Louis, Capital Health Systems Agency (NC), the North Carolina Governor's Advisory Council on Comprehensive Health Planning, and the NC State Health Coordinating Council. He sought to make primary healthcare, nursing homes, and dialysis more accessible to rural citizens.

During his career with the North Carolina Department of Administration, he held the positions of Assistant State Planning Officer and Administrator of the Policy Development Division. In 1992, Governor Jim Martin named him to the State's Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for State service.

He was a life member of the American Public Health Association and served a term as secretary and program chairman of its Health Education Section. He was an occasional lecturer on health education and health administration at the UNC School of Public Health.

Elmer was a member of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church for 59 years. At Pullen he worked with the handy corps for twenty years and served terms as the chair of the Deacons and Sunday school superintendent. He was on the boards of directors of Emmaus House and Resources for Seniors, both of which he served as chairman. At Springmoor, he helped for ten years to organize and provide escorts for residents needing assistance.

Elmer was known to all as a sweet, kind human being with a quiet nature. His love of crossword puzzles continued until the week before his death. He was a progressive thinker, life-long learner, and demonstrated genuine interest in and respect for all people.

In addition to his wife Phyllis, Elmer was preceded in death by his son Kenneth Johnson.

He is survived by his son, Nathan Johnson (Retno), Jakarta, Indonesia; daughter-in-law, Jo Joyce, Wallburg, NC; and daughter, Ann Johnson (Bob Stewart), Arlington, VA. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Hanah Johnson (Zani Doumbia), Cambridge, MA; Aaron Johnson, Lafayette, LA; Jakob Johnson, Wallburg, NC; and Nellie Stewart, Arlington, VA, as well as nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends who enriched his life.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 1, at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh. A private interment service will be held beforehand. The memorial service may be streamed at https://www.pullen.org/livestream-funerals.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is serving the Johnson family.