Deacon James Johnson, 90 yrs. old,  of West Mifflin, PA, was called home to rest on October 7, 2022, after a brief illness. 

Deacon Johnson  was born on January 13, 1932, on Johns Island, South Carolina. In 1951, he and his late wife, Thelma, moved to Pennsylvania where he worked for US Steel for more than 30 years and then for Auberle Group Home in McKeesport until he retired at the tender age of 80. Deacon Johnson also worked part time as a security guard at Kennywood Amusement Park throughout the 1970s.

During his 70+ years as a resident of Duquesne, Deacon Johnson served his community as a volunteer auxiliary police officer during the 1970s, an owner of Johnson’s Fish and Produce Store during the 1960s, and as one of the organizers of the long-running Duquesne Community Day. Every year until the last decade, Mr. Johnson planted a garden and shared its bounty with elderly members of the community.  

Mr. Johnson joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (MMBC), Duquesne in the early 1950s. He was a member and then president of the usher board until he was called to become a deacon in 1988.  He served as chairman of the Deacon Board from 2005 to 2021, and remained chairman emeritus until his death. 

Deacon Johnson attended Burke High School in Charleston, SC and graduated from Harty Bible School.

Preceded in death was his mother, Mary E. Johnson; father, Thomas Johnson, his brothers Thomas and Richard Johnson and his wife, Thelma Legare Johnson. Deacon Johnson is survived by his adult children, Vermelle Favers of Harrisburg, PA; Sandra Johnson of McKeesport, PA; James Johnson of West Mifflin, PA; and Sonya Johnson of Knoxville, TN; a stepson, Leslie Sandidge of West Mifflin, PA; a brother, Henry Johnson of Charleston, SC; eight grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and 18 great-great grandchildren. Deacon Johnson also leaves to mourn his special friend, Freda Montgomery, and many other family members and friends.