Marshall Johnson

Marshall Johnson, 88, died Saturday September 19th. He was born July 4th, 1921 as a premature 7 month baby after his mother went riding in a Model T Ford on a bumpy road on Independence Day. He was the 4th son of William P. and Epes (Collier Kevan) Johnson. He loved his birthday and his children grew up thinking the fireworks were all in honor of him. After graduating from Petersburg High School, he attended the University of Virginia until he entered the U.S. Army. After serving five years in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from UVA. He returned to Petersburg and began working with his father and brothers in W.P. Johnson and Sons Real Estate. Marshall, realizing the lack of real estate at that time, began to construct houses in the Tri-City area. He was past president of the Southside Va. Home Builders Association and honored as a member of their Hall of Fame. In 1960, he was President of the State of Virginia Home Builders Association. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Petersburg for 52 years. He was a member of Christ and Grace Episcopal Church. He loved mentoring young men and women, teaching them to fish, hunt and play tennis. He was very active with local Boy Scout Troop 162 and also served as Chairman of the Board of the Richmond area Boys Scouts of America for 25 years. It was rare for him to pass up an opportunity to bring a live snake to the meeting for the boys to learn how to handle them. He was a member of the Country Club of Petersburg and very active until 1 year ago in its tennis program. He started an annual fishing tournament for children, held each year at the Club thru the Games and Inland Fishery Department of the State of Virginia. This tournament is now named in his honor. He was also a member of the Arrington Fishing Club. If you wanted to catch a fish - you went fishing with â??Opaâ?, as he was often called after he became a grandfather. He loved animals and nature and would often nurse a sick duck or squirrel back to health. Birds were his love and the ones in our backyard will truly miss him, especially all the treats. He anxiously awaited each year the arrival of the hummingbirds as well as the barn swallows. He knew which day they would arrive to move back in to their home and when they would leave. He was preceded in death by his parents and three older brothers as well as his wife Marian Allen Johnson. He is survived by his wife Susanne, two children, Kimbrough Wagner residing in Orlando Fl with her husband, Warren, and Marshall Johnson Jr. of Chester Va. and in addition 3 children by marriage, Mary Golden, Mitchell Bowman and Christian Fant. He had 4 grandchildren, John Wagner, Marian Parsons, Marshall Johnson III and Macon Johnson and 2 great grand children and too many nieces, nephews and cousins to mention. He will be greatly missed by not only his family but all those whose lives he touched. There will be a Visitation at JT Morriss Funeral Home in Petersburg at 7-9 PM on Monday September 21st, and a graveside service on Tuesday September 22nd at 2:00 PM at Blandford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent in his memory to PIONEERS, 10123 William Carey Dr, Orlando FL 32832 for the ministry of Warren and Kim Wagner.