Joseph Clyde Johnson

Mr. Joseph Clyde Johnson, 76, of 416 Johnson Creek Road, Ararat, VA, passed away Friday, July 27, 2007, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. Mr. Johnson was born January 18, 1931, in Surry County, to Ramsey Dowell Johnson, Sr. and Josephine Webster Johnson. He was a renowned musician of old time music, having played with Slate Mountain Ramblers and the Foothills Band. He was the emcee for the Merry Go Round Program on Saturday mornings on WPAQ radio station for 47 years. Mr. Johnson was retired from United Technology and was of the Methodist faith. Surviving are his wife, Annie Boyd Johnson of the home; his children and their spouses, Portia and Jeff Tate and Paula and Kenneth Walker, all of Mount Airy, Tony and Deborah Johnson of Ararat, NC, Eddie and Virginia Johnson of Pinnacle, and Daron and Petra Johnson, Mount Airy; his blended family from a former marriage, Harvey McMillian of Ararat, VA, and David and Juanita McMillian, Dennis McMillian, and Lu Anne and Tim Llewellyn, all of Cana, VA; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ramsey D. Johnson, Jr. of Mount Airy. In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a sister, Lorraine Johnson; and a brother, Archie Johnson. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, July 30, 2007, at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Tommy Nichols, and entombment will be at the Skyline Memory Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made for the preservation of old time music, in c/o WPAQ Radio Station, P.O. Box 907, Mount Airy, NC 27030.