Kenneth Miles Johnson

Kenneth Miles Johnson passed away suddenly after experiencing a fall on December 20, 2024, at the age of 65. Ken was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in St. Louis, MO, and Raleigh, NC. Ken married Jo Joyce in 1987, and in 2002 they traveled to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, to adopt their son, Jakob. Ken resided with his family in Wallburg and Raleigh, NC.

After graduating from Sanderson High School in Raleigh in 1977, Ken attended the Residential College, Mary Foust Hall, within UNC-Greensboro, where he flourished. He received a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in 1981, majoring in History and Political Science. He then attended George Washington University in Washington, DC, and received a Juris Doctor with honors in 1984. He began a successful 40-year career as an attorney focusing on employee benefits and dealing with critical issues affecting people's day-to-day lives. He spent the first fifteen years of his career in Washington, DC. He practiced as an associate and partner with the law firm of O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue, where he represented pension and welfare plans. He also served as Associate General Counsel with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Health and Retirement Funds. While supervising an employee benefits litigation practice with the UMWA Funds, he traveled frequently to Charleston and Beckley, WV, advocating for the benefit of coal miners.

In 1999, he and Jo moved back to his beloved home state of North Carolina, where he continued his legal career. Ken first served as a Director and then as President/Managing Partner for Tuggle Duggins, Attorneys at Law, in Greensboro. His work involved all aspects of qualified plans, welfare benefits, and ERISA litigation. In 2015, Ken accepted a position as Senior Vice-President/Practice Leader ERISA & Employee Benefit Compliance with McGriff Insurance Services (formerly BB&T Insurance Services). In April 2020, Ken began practicing with Alston & Bird LLP in Raleigh, focusing on health and welfare plan compliance issues and serving as Counsel in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group at the time of his death.

Ken was licensed to practice law in North Carolina, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. He was admitted to appear in numerous courts across the country, including the US Supreme Court.

Ken loved spending time with Jo and Jakob at both the beach and in the High Country of North Carolina. He greatly anticipated the daily newspaper, and he worked diligently on the crossword puzzle for as long as his schedule allowed, after he first consumed the sports section. He was an avid sports fan, always closely following his Washington Wizards, Carolina Panthers, Carolina Tarheels, Tennessee Volunteers, and Nascar Driver William Byron. Ken enjoyed playing tennis with his friends at Sherwood Club in Greensboro for many years.

Ken and Jo shared their love of sports and their passion for charitable causes. Ken was a dedicated supporter of the Autism Society of North Carolina and its Camp Royall in Pittsboro, which Jakob has attended and adores. Ken enthusiastically supported the Southern Poverty Law Center for over thirty years. He supported the XSProject in Jakarta, Indonesia for over ten years through Global Giving. His generosity helped provide health, education, and other school needs for more than 100 children of trash pickers and other marginalized people, transforming lives of children who ranged in age from kindergarten to college. Ken served for years on the Board of Directors for the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association, dedicated to giving families and their children hope when facing disabilities and making a difference in the lives of infants and toddlers. He was devoted to his alma mater UNC-Greensboro, and he served on the Board of Visitors at the time of his death, helping to advance the University.

Through all his life’s endeavors, Ken built and nurtured a multitude of long-lasting friendships. He was life-long friends with classmates from the Residential College and UNC-Greensboro. He remained close with his law school study group, reuniting with them this past June in Washington, DC. He appreciated his personal and spiritual development and the opportunities afforded by his church family as he grew up in Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. He cherished his teenage experiences on pilgrimages to Coventry Cathedral in England, where he developed life-long bonds. While in college he spent summers having fun while working in various capacities at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Through his affiliation with the Blue Ridge Assembly, he traveled to the West Bank of Israel in addition to Germany, where he gained unique experiences for his age. He continued to visit Blue Ridge Assembly and savor the memories and friendships for the rest of his life.

Ken had a genuine laugh, an easygoing nature, a keen intellect, a generous and caring spirit, and a warm personality. He had a green thumb and thoroughly enjoyed gardening, watching his vegetables and flowers grow, and beautifying his yard. He delighted at the sight of birds, especially hummingbirds, drinking at his many feeders, and he was amused by the sight of bunnies, deer, and bears caught on his outdoor cameras. He was overjoyed with excitement and anticipation at the forecast of snow. Although a serious attorney, he was always a kid at heart, much to the delight of his son, nieces, and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis Hoerr Johnson. In addition to his wife Jo and son Jakob, Ken is survived by his father Elmer Johnson of Raleigh, brother Nathan Johnson (Retno) of Jakarta, Indonesia, and sister Ann Johnson (Bob Stewart) of Arlington, VA. He will be greatly missed by his nieces and nephews, many cousins, and other family and abundant friends who filled his life.

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the organizations or institutions that Ken supported.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh. A reception at the church will follow the service. A private interment service will be held. The memorial service may be streamed at https://www.pullen.org/livestream-1

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, has been entrusted with Ken’s care and is assisting the family.