James Howe Johnson Jr.

JAMES HOWE JOHNSON, Jr., 70, of MARTINSVILLE, DIED FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014, AT KING’S GRANT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. HE WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 2, l944 IN RICHMOND, VA AND WAS RAISED IN WEST POINT, VA. HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS GRANDPARENTS, MR. AND MRS. JOEL C. WHALEY, THE REV. AND MRS. JAMES AUGUSTUS JOHNSON AND PARENTS, FLORENCE WHALEY JOHNSON AND JAMES HOWE JOHNSON. HE IS SURVIED BY HIS WIFE, CECELIA ROBINSON JOHNSON, HIS SONS JOEL RODERIC JOHNSON (KARYN) OF MARTINSVILLE, JAMES ANDREW JOHNSON (ADRIENNE)AND WILLIAM TODD JOHNSON (EMILY) BOTH OF RICHMOND; A SISTER, THE REV. AND DR. JOANNA ELIZABETH JOHNSON SEIBERT (ROBERT). ALSO SURVIVING HIM ARE HIS TWO GRANDCHILDREN VIVIENNE ELIZABETH JOHNSON AND JACK MARTIN JOHNSON. JIM IS A GRADUATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY EARNING BOTH HIS BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S DEGREE IN ECONOMICS. HE IS A GRADUATE OF STONIER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BANKING AND THE CANON FINANCIAL INSTITUTE OF PRIVATE BANKING. HE BEGAN HIS BANKING CAREER IN RALEIGH, NC AT CAMERON- BROWN COMPANY. JIM AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO MARTINSVILLE, VA IN 1979 WHERE HE HEADED THE MORTGAGE BANKING OPERATIONS AT PIEDMONT TRUST BANK. JIM CONTINUED TO SPECIALIZE IN COMMERCIAL AND MORTAGE BANKING AT BOTH AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK AND CARTER BANK AND TRUST. HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE MARTINSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOR MANY YEARS, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BLUE RIDGE, A BOARD MEMBER AT FOREST PARK, CHATMOSS COUNTRY CLUB, MARTINSVILLE ROTARY CLUB, MARTINSVILLE UPTOWN REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE, THE RED CROSS, MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION. HE FURTHER SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE VIRGINIA MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION, CHAIRMAN OF PHOENIX CDC, JUNIOR AND SENIOR WARDEN OF CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE VIRGINIA TITLE CENTER. HE DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO HIS WORK, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. HIS HOBBIES WERE GOLF, READING, NCSU FOOTBALL AND ATTENDING HIS SONS SPORTS ACTIVITIES. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A MAN WHO GREATLY LOVED HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY. THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JIM WILL BE HELD AT CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT 2 PM ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 30TH. A RECEPTION AT CHATMOSS COUNTRY CLUB WILL FOLLOW THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS AT THE HOME ON 1507 WHITE OAK COURT, MARTINSVILLE, VA. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE DONATE TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BLUE RIDGE, 26 WEST CHURCH STREET, MARTINSVILLE 24112, CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 311 EAST CHURCH ST, MARTINSVILLE 24112, GRACE NETWORK, P. O. BOX 3902, MARTINSVILLE 24115 OR A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE. THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE STAFF OF KING’S GRANT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY FOR YOUR LOVE AND DEVOTION TO JIM. To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com