Pastor Lee Johnson

Allen Lee Johnson came into this world on November 26, 1956, in Mount Airy, to the late Arvil Lee Johnson and Peggy Colleen (East) Johnson.  He made his triumphant transition to glory on May 15, 2021, with his eyes looking toward Heaven.  Assuredly, the angels rejoiced at his arrival. Lee Johnson grew up in Mount Airy and graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1975.  It was in his sophomore year of attending Lenoir Rhyne College that he was introduced to someone who would lead him the rest of his life, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Lee was saved on May 23, 1976, and was called into the ministry on March 11, 1979.  He earned his BA degree in June of 1980 and on April 13, 1980, he was ordained into full-time ministry at Victory Baptist Church.  Lee became a bi-vocational pastor of Salem Fork Baptist Church in Elkin from 1980-1984.  He felt God wanted him to pastor Fairview Baptist Church in Dobson and was there between February 1984-May 1990.  In October 1990, Lee became the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in East Bend and in May 1994, Lee began to pray for the Lord’s direction in his life.  Lee was given many opportunities to spread the Gospel and while working in the field of business he met many Christians with whom he could bond.  One of those people happened to ask him if he would consider preaching a trial sermon at a local church.  Lee and his wife prayed for God’s Will in their lives and it was in 2006 that the couple joined hands and became servants of God at Rock Hill Baptist Church in Ararat.  This was the last church Lee would pastor before retiring with poor health.  There were many wonderful memories made there, as well as in the other churches he had ministered. Lee was always grateful to God for the churches allowing him to be bi-vocational and it was because of that reason that he met even more Christian people.  He worked many full-time years at API Graphics in High Point as a purchasing agent, Gildan in Mount Airy selling textiles, where he was able to gain a new perspective by traveling to El Salvador and Honduras, and finishing up at YVEDDI in Boonville, again, where he met many great people.  One of the biggest opportunities in his life that challenged him to become a better Christian was when he went out of our great country and saw for the first time how devastated and different other countries lived.  His zeal for God showed through his prayer life and changes happened in a little church in Ararat.  It was with the help of Godly men and women, including many young people that God was able to work in leading souls to Christ.  Although retired, he worked part-time at Moody Funeral Services and was honored to preach at several funerals and help with many services.  Lee was always humbled by the opportunities and people placed in his life and saw them as gifts from God. From the union of their hearts, Lee and his wife, Diana Lynne Johnson, joined their children and became a family with their surviving two sons, Thomas Britton engaged to Elizabeth Rodgers of Virginia and the Rev. Theodore Britton and his wife, Alisha, of Virginia; and two daughters, Army veteran, Lela Britton of North Carolina and Elizabeth (Johnson) Zyglis and her husband, Eric, also of North Carolina.  Their beautiful grandchildren are Jaxon, Jett, and Jacen Britton, Brook-Lynne Britton, and Bentlei Taylor.  Lee was blessed with wonderful brothers-in-law, James S. Feather and his wife, Patricia, and Robert C. Feather (Retired missionary) and his wife, Wilma Feather; many, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.  Lee many times quoted the verse Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage of the Lord” and loved being around children.  It was a passion for his wife and himself to help nurture them. Lee was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his sister, Sue Goff.  Sue’s husband, Jerry Goff, showed tremendous compassion to Lee during the deaths of the above mentioned members of his immediate family.  He was also supported by special family members, Mike Estes and Eddie Hiatt with wife Denise and his very special aunt, Martha Hiatt. Lee Johnson trusted God completely and listened daily for God’s instructions.  He was selfless, lived to please God, and tried to allow God to order his steps.  He was a great example of a man that followed God, and there is no doubt his legacy followed him to Heaven. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Salem Fork Baptist Church at 555 Twin Oaks Road in Elkin, with special speakers, the Rev. Sean Joplin and Dr. Dan Merritt, and special singing by the Rev. Theodore Britton, Jonathan Bledsoe, and Billy Smith.  Instrumental music will be performed by Frankie Smith, who also used her servant’s heart to help get the ceremony ready. Because of Lee’s generous organ and tissue donations to medically help save lives, a private graveside at Skyline Memory Gardens will be held at a later time. To send flowers to Pastor Lee Johnson's family, please visit our floral store.