Obituary of Thomas Edward Johnson

Rev. Thomas Edward Johnson, better known as “Tommy”, age 91, of West Jefferson passed away Thursday, November 1, 2018 at Forest Ridge Assisted Living Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 1:00pm at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Elledge officiating. Burial will follow in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery with military rites.

The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:00pm on Saturday, November 10, 2018; one hour prior to the funeral service.

Rev. Johnson was born in Boonville, NC on August 3, 1927. He was the youngest of 14 children born to the late Amie and Nan Key Johnson. He was an orphan at the age of 10 and was raised by his sister, Katie and her husband, George Williams. He graduated from Boonville High School and later married Mary Jo Hudspeth on July 16, 1949. He served in the United States Navy Reserves during World War II. Mary Jo and he had four children. Business brought them to Ashe County in 1961 where he owned the Ford Dealership and later he established Jon-Marc Department Store.

His life was changed forever when he answered the call to preach in 1972. He attended Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute and he served as the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, and later pastored Grace Christian Fellowship. He also had a popular Sunday morning radio program on WKSK. Upon retirement they moved to Myrtle Beach, where he was a chaplain at Pirate Land Campground. The Johnsons moved to Forrest Ridge Assisted Living in 2014. His life became his sermon. His love, gentleness and good humor manifested to everyone who came into contact with him.

Rev. Johnson is survived by two sons, Michael Johnson and wife, Jill, of Fleetwood and Mitchell Johnson and wife, Kay, of Banner Elk; two daughters, Chris Johnson Badger, of St. Augustine, Florida and Stacey Johnson, of Marshall, NC; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one great, great-grandson; several nieces and nephews also survive.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to:  Friendship Baptist Church, 891 Friendship Baptist Church Road, Jefferson, NC 28640.

You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com.

Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.